Choose to travel the narrow way

Rev Enoch Thompson | MARCH 2, 2023 | MATTHEW 7:13-14

KEY VERSE:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Matthew 7:13 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

Every human being born into this world begins a journey and continues in that journey to a destination of destruction in Hell or eternal bliss with God in Heaven. The journey of life is undertaken by the individual on a path with an entry point, which the individual chooses. The Lord identifies two gates or decision points that mark the beginning of the individual’s journey of life, the wide gate and the narrow gate. The section under consideration gives us the admonishment to enter through the small gate and travel the narrow way.

The reason for the Lord’s direction is that the wide gate is wide; what does this mean? The wide gate is wide because it is inviting, accommodating and spacious; it seems the way to go. The wide gate leads unto a path that is broad, it is the lifestyle with no restrictions. One who enters the wide gate lives a life where conscience is silenced, and God’s rules and,are thrown to the wind. The wide gate and its broad road is often chosen because it has many travellers. How many of us are influenced by what everybody seems to be doing? Of course, it is easier to be like the rest than to be different from them. The philosophy on the broad road is that if it feels good, and everybody is doing it, then go ahead and do it. Because the road is broad the traveller can freely throw their weight about however, they choose. The sad reality about this choice of a life journey is that it leads to destruction. In life, it makes us slaves of the devil, and beyond death, it qualifies us for eternal Hell. Wise King Solomon captures this truth this way; ¹² There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death (Prov 14:12; repeated in 16:25), NIV.

The prescribed way for the Kingdom citizen is to enter life through a decision point that is deliberately limiting and restrictive. To choose to be a follower of the Lord Jesus and to truly live that life is a commitment to live a restricted, demanding, and challenging life. He said in Matthew 10:37-39, ³⁷"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; ³⁸ and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (NIV). The lordship of Christ is a narrow gate. The human desire to self-project and to be our own god cannot accept that Jesus Christ is Lord of our salvation and Master of our sanctification.

Not only is the gate small, but the path open to the Kingdom traveller is a narrow path! To truly live as God would have us do is a truly narrow path. The Christian life is not necessarily a life devoid of happiness, for it offers happiness at a deeper level, it offers joy, and contentment that is not dependent on external factors. The Christian life is a seriously restricted life, life on the narrow path; we cannot use certain language because our language must be sanitized. We cannot treat others unfairly because we must do to others what we want done to us. We must love people who hate us, pray for them, and show them genuine goodness. The path is really narrow and has few travellers. The good thing to note is that the Master assures us that this path leads to life; life in this life, and life beyond death.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Have you entered life through the narrow gate? The Lord Jesus asserts in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV)

If you have not, then please accept that He came to die for you and rose again from the dead. Thereafter determine by His help to keep to the narrow path and be sure He will help you to the promised Heavenly home.

PRAYER:

Dear Master and King Jesus, thank you for summarising the human story so simply. I commit to the small gate and the narrow road. Please help me keep my feet road till I appear before you in Heaven. For your dear Name’s sake Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!