This narrow way

The tag line above is taken from Matthew 7:14 at the end of what is referred to as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The entire passage reads:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

A lot there in just a few words. Two gates, wide and narrow. Two ways, broad and narrow. Two destinations, Hell and Heaven. Two crowds, the many and the few. Only two choices. The wide gate and the broad way leads to one destination. The narrow gate and the narrow way leads to the other. Many are going to one destination, few to the other. There are only two choices because there are only two religions which direct people to these roads. Christianity, through divine accomplishment, and everything else, through human achievement. That’s it. But hey, there are lots of ways to get to heaven. We may all be on different roads, but the roads all end up in the same place, right. It’s like cable television, hundreds of channels, but they all lead to entertainment. Steve Harvey said so.

Sorry, Steve, but there are only two. What you’re describing is the wide gate and the broad way. The one that the many are on. The one that leads to Hell. Oh, the sign doesn’t say Hell, it says Heaven. Satan is many things, but he ain’t stupid. He’ll tell you, ‘Come on, the road is wide, there’s room for everybody, follow the crowd, it’s easy. Bring all your baggage, you can even call yourself religious if you want to. And we’ll call you by your preferred pronouns and you can identify as whatever you like. We’re a tolerant bunch.’ The problem comes when you get to the end of the road and find out he was lying. Then it’s too late.

^“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:22.

Then there’s the narrow, constricted way. The one that says:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

It’s sure not the easy way.

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:38-39.

“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:24.

No crowds through this gate, one at a time. No baggage, either.

“Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling..”

Yes, the way is narrow, and the road is not easy, but for those who persevere it’s worth the struggle.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them^,  and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1