Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13-14).” As I’m writing this article, KELOLand news reported that, “a 24-year-old man died in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday evening, five miles north of Nisland.” No one is guaranteed another day; you don’t know if you’ll make it home from work this evening. I’d like you to consider where you are today and what happens next. I want you to think about the bigger picture and where you’re headed in life and beyond. Think about where you are walking, what path you are on, and where you will end up – are you walking through the narrow gate or the wide gate that Jesus spoke of? Jesus is preaching the sermon on the mount and He comes to the end of the sermon and puts it to you: “What are you prepared to do? Where are you headed? Where will you end up? How will you get there?” You have two paths before you today: choose before it’s too late.
There is a wide gate you could enter through, and many are going through it. It is an easy way, an inviting way. It looks good, smells good, feels good. It is crisp, clear, and refreshing, it “goes down easy to Sunday,” it is “less filling and tastes great.” But it will kill you. It leads to destruction, death, wrath, pain, turmoil, being apart from God and away from God. It is not life, it is death and Hell, a hopeless destiny of weeping and pain and gnashing of teeth. Is that where you’re headed? Every sinner is heading there, and we are all sinners, apart from God, rebelling against God, raising a fist and finger to God. What path are you on? If you are through the wide gate, you are heading to destruction.
But there is good news! There is another path, and a glorious God in His love and mercy offers you a better way: choose life. “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Enter by the narrow gate. Yes, it’s narrow and a tight squeeze at times. Yes, it’s hard, with pain, persecution, and suffering. And yes, not many people are on this path; it’s lonely at times. But it is the way and truth, the only one way that leads to the life, life from the Father, to the Son, through the Spirit. John explained it like this: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. If you believe in the Son of God, you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:11-12).” It is the born-again way, as Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Are you on this path?
What path are you on? This is about your soul and destiny for whatever time you have left here and where you will spend eternity. Do you want real life? Jesus also said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:9-10).” Admit your sins to God today, acknowledge to Him you’re on the wrong path, the wide path, heading to destruction. Turn from that and repent and confess, “I have sinned, please save me.” And if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10).