The broad and narrow way

Text: Matthew 7: 13, 14; Luke 1 3:23-30

Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the Mighty to save.

Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

Though they are slighting Him, Still He is waiting.
Waiting the penitent child to receive.
Plead with them earnestly, Plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, Crushed by the tempter.
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving hand, Wakened by kindness.
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, Duty demands it;
Strength for thy labour the Lord will provide:
Back to the narrow way, Patiently win them;
Tell the poor wanderer a Saviour has died.

Our Lord’s mission on earth was to give His life and shed His blood for our salvation. His desire and travail was not just to make men religious but righteous. He was then committed to show men the true way back to God and the pathway to heaven. Before He came, religious leaders were misleading men, professing to them the way to heaven but they were blind leaders of the blind, not knowing the way to the heavenly city; they made men twofold children of hell than themselves (Matthew 15: 14; Ecclesiastes 10:15; Matthew 23:15).

Those religious leaders, like many today, “called evil good and good evil; put darkness for light; and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). Calling on all who desire eternal life and heaven, Christ now says, “Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait (narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7 :13,14). The gate of the natural birth through which the whole of humanity came into the world does not lead to eternal life. Neither can the gate of infant baptism or Jewish circumcision lead to Christ’s kingdom. Each one must repent and believe in Christ, be born-again and transformed. enter through the strait gate and walk in the narrow way of obedience in order to be part of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

1. FEW IN THE NARROW WAY.
Matthew 7:13,14; Luke 13:23-25; Matthew 22:14; Luke 12:32; 1 Corinthians 1:26-28; Acts 3:19; Isaiah 55:7; 35:8

As in the days of Noah and Lot, few will escape judgment because only few go through the strait gate and walk consistently in the narrow way. To be among the few, we have to turn our back upon the multitude in the world, forsake our cherished sins and follow Christ all the way. “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” A “gate” serves two purposes: it lets in and shuts out. This gate is the only opening for admittance to that “way” which leads to life and all who do not enter by it are eternally locked out from the presence of God and the realm of eternal happiness. You and your sins must separate or you and your God will never come together. You cannot keep even one sin. All sins must be given up. You must forsake them, hate them and ask the Lord for power to overcome them. It is by abandoning all our idols and the pleasures of sin and of the flesh that we pass through the strait gate.

Many are called but few are chosen. Only few find the way of life. Only few are humble and lowly enough to repent and mourn for their sins. Only few find the way of meekness and walk in it. How few are willing to squeeze themselves, purge themselves of all sins, relinquish all sinful pleasures, abandon all worldly companions and be absolutely surrendered to Christ. Only those few find life at the end.

2. FOLLOWERS IN THE BROAD WAY.
Matthew 7:13; Proverbs, 14:12; Philippians 3:18,19; 2 Kings 1 7:33,34,40,41; John 6:60,61,66; 2 Peter 2:2,14-22; Matthew 24:11-13; 7:22,23.

Many, multitudes are walking in the broad way. “For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and MANY there be which go in thereat.” The broad way is the path of self-will and self-gratification. It is “wide” because those in it do not accept any restriction. The hedge or control of God’s commandments has been broken down. The going is smooth and easy because it is a downward road. It is popular but it is deceptive. For those who are walking in it, it is “the way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death”.

In the broad way, liberty and freedom are the favourite words, pride and vanity, pleasure and ambition, independence and self-indulgence‘ covetousness and love of money, revenge and retaliation, loose talk and indecent dressing, partiality and favouritism, sins of all kinds are all indulged in without remorse or sorrow of heart. Those in the broad way justify themselves and paint their sins in bright colours calling them mistakes, faults, weakness or harmless habits.

What further deceives men and women walking in the broad way to destruction is that men of eminence and women of influence, wise men after the flesh, and honourable women, not a few are walking the same broad road with them. If the words of Jesus are true, “broad is the way that leadeth to destruction.” “For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

3. FINDING AN D WALKING IN THE NARROW WAY.
Luke 13:24; Jeremiah 6:16; Psalm 119:30, 102; Matthew 11:12; Ephesians 4:17,18,29,31,32; Hebrews 10:19-23; Luke 14:33; Isaiah 2:3,5.

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” Luke warmness, carefree attitude, procrastination, spiritual slothfulness and carelessness prevent many church members from entering in at this gate. To “strive” here means to be earnest, to urgently cut off whatever is tying you down to sin, to deliberately burn the bridge that links you with the world. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).

Walking along the narrow way denotes a steady perseverance in faith and obedience to God through the grace of Christ.Wa1king in the narrow way means that our mind, our affection, our will, our speech and all our actions will be brought within the compass of God’s Holy Word. Those who are walking in the narrow way, have been called out of the world, cleansed and made new creatures in Christ, they are walking in the light and do not secretly have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; they keep themselves unspotted from the world and constantly crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts; they abstain from all appearance of evil, die to carnal desires daily and bury self-will at the foot of the Cross; they are willing to suffer the loss of things which will hinder them from getting to heaven at last

Strive now to enter in. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand”. Don't wait till it becomes too late. “Arise, call upon thy God.” “It is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.” Enter while you may.