THE BROAD AND THE NARROW WAY

“BROAD is the WAY that leads to destruction…NARROW is the gate and difficult is the WAY which leads to life” – Matthew 7: 13-14

The Bible describes two pathways open to humanity – THE BROAD WAY and the NARROW WAY: “Enter by the narrow gate, for WIDE is the GATE and BROAD is the WAY that leads to destruction, and there are MANY who go in by it. Because NARROW is the GATE and difficult is the WAY which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mt.7: 13-14). Our Lord Jesus seemed always to classify people in two categories. He taught that there are two ways before every human being – the broad way and the narrow way, both preceded by Gates, one of which every human being must access. There are two destinies in life. Jesus did not give a third alternative. He did not give any middle road: It’s either one or the other.

We cannot be neutral about eternal life, though a lot of people try to be. They try to ride the middle road – but there is no middle road. Jesus said it’s one or the other. He said if you’re not on the narrow road that leads to eternal life, then you must be on the broad road that leads to destruction. Every person is on one or the other. These are the two options that God has set before every one, the choice of which we must make before our breath ceases, before time is swallowed up in eternity and eternal judgement manifests: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb.9:27).

The broad way is easy to find; indeed, difficult to avoid. Most people like this wide way – “there are MANY who go in it” – because it’s comfortable, easy to access, popular, culturally acceptable, and trendy. The broad way allows one to carry baggage of sins and persist in false hope of eternal security that’ll end up in disappointment and regret. The broad way portrays a false liberty, with no restrictions or inhibitions. It is a crowded road, characterised by conformity. The broad road is deceptive. It may appear to be the right way, but it is a fatal road that will end in destruction (Pro.14:12; 16:25).

The narrow way, however, follows the direction and desires of the Father, and leads to life, though “there are few who find it” (v.14). The narrow way must be sought and found: “Ask, and it will be given to you; SEEK, and you will FIND…” (v.7). Specifically, the narrow Way is – “the Way and the Truth and the Life” – in other words, Jesus Himself (Jh.14:6). Those who enter by the narrow gate of faith in Christ find the peace and joy of a relationship with Him, which truly satisfies the heart. The narrow Way is often not easy, but it’s where we’ll find fullness of life, joy, peace, and eternal pleasures: “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psa.16:11).

Sadly, there are some moralists – even church people – on the broad way, who wrongly assume that they’re on the right road. The Lord Jesus says, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Mt.7: 22-23). Such deluded persons wrongly assume that they’re eternally secure!

Beloved, we must each come to the place of self-examination, and ask: “Which road am I traveling on today – the broad road or the narrow road? One leads to destruction and hell; the other leads to a full life here and now and everlasting life in Heaven. Which is it? It’s one or the other. If I did not know which road I was on, I would make sure today, no matter what it cost! Our lives are not in our hands. Our breath does not belong to us. Eternity can dawn at any moment. We never know!