The Narrow Way

Matthew 7:13-14

Illustration of the highway

Enter by the straight gate and proclaim that the process of conversion must take place in order to be saved.

The narrow way, the straight gate, is the Bible.

The wide gate is false religio--Catholicism, humanism, Islam, Buddhism, as well as the parts of Christianity which are corrupt--self-indulgence and pleasure.

These evil ways are broad. They speak of evil as being enticing and alluring. As such most fall easily into the evil way now.

By contrast, the straight gate, or the door, is narrow, which means that most often one must search to find it. It is the way to heaven.

(testimony of first 3 months at T.C.)

The blood Jesus shed on the cross cleanses us.

To be sure preachers who espouse the narrow way are called narrow themselves.

As such, they are hated, reviled, laughed at, and most if not all the time, ostracized. It isn’t popular.

“And many there be which go in through the wide gate” refers to most of the world and for all time.

Tragically, many if not most of these people thought they were saved or ready or prepared.

However, those who entered this wide gate were not saved.

There is nothing in the world worse than a false way of salvation! But tragically and as Christ said, “Many there be which go in there.”

The phrase, “straight is the gate” means that the requirements are greater than most are willig to accept—self-denial.

At the outset much determination is required, and afterward much self-denial. Our faith will be tested.

Men and women do not enter this straight gate because they cannot carry their sins with them, and they love their sins.

The central theme of the whole Bible is the blood shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sin.

What we don’t realize is that whatever the Lord takes away is that which is harming us, no matter how enjoyable at the present time it may seem to be, then He always gives us something far greater to take its place.

Religion can only take away. It can add nothing. However, Jesus gives eternal life with all its joys and fulfillment. He gives us a heart of compassion. That which He takes away from us—our sins and self-will—even though at times seem attractive—in reality do nothing but hurt us and other people.

Sadly, many people have come to the place of great hurt before they will finally say “Yes” to Christ.

The narrow way is pressured and difficult but the world’s system—the wide way—is the enemy of the believer. The truth is there is no in-between—either heaven or hell.

Admittedly, many preachers, churches, and religious denominations have attempted to broaden the way but they only succeed in destroying it.

The way is His way and must not be tampered with by man.

This means that the believer should be very careful as to what He reads, where he goes, friends he associates with and even the thoughts he thinks.

The phrase “the way which leads unto life”—actually Christ—speaks of eternal life but mostly it is referring to living in the present life in the fullest nature.

Without Jesus there is no life! And only in Jesus, the cross of Calvary and His blood can one find the meaning of life.

That means the richest man in the world doesn’t even know what life is unless He has Christ.

That’s why Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

But few are they that find the way. Some do search at least for a while but then they give up.

Are you ready to surrender to Jesus Christ?

He will supernaturally see you through.