Biblical Reflections · Christian Life

The broad road or the narrow road?

11 min read, approximately

A dirt path through a green forest; illustrative photograph. — Illustrative photograph. Photo:Lauri Poldre / Pexels

“Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and spacious the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. For narrow is the gate and confined the road that leads to life, and few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

The Lord has given you and me the ability to do what we wish in our daily lives, but we must know that everything we choose or do in our lives will have consequences for life or for death

“Rejoice, young person, in your youth, and let your heart take pleasure in the days of your adolescence; follow the ways of your heart and what your eyes see, but know that God will judge you for all these things. Therefore remove anger from your heart and put evil away from your body, for adolescence and youth are vanity. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the bad days come and the years arrive of which you say: I find no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, 12:1)

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.” (Proverbs 21:2)

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

“But what is new about this? Aren’t we all going to die anyway?”

“And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)

Yes, but our body returns to dust

“and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

Furthermore, the Lord has

“… appointed for people to die once, and after this, judgment” (Hebrews 9:27)

And during this judgment a verdict will be issued that finally determines whether we go to eternal life or the second death

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)

Lie or truth?

We know that today many people deceive society through lies and deceit; nevertheless,

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

“Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.” (Jeremiah 23:24)

“And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13)

The outcome of the verdict is

“And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)

including those who think that staying between both sides might help them

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

So, according to God’s Word: first death, final judgment, second death or eternal life

“Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

How can we avoid walking along the broad road that leads to destruction?

\1. Understanding that Jesus is the Way and the Gate

“Jesus said to him: I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

“Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.” (John 10:7-9)

\2. Denying ourselves

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds. Verily I say unto you, There are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:24-28)

\3. Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:” (Romans 10:8-9)

\4. Putting

“… to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, disordered passions, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry; because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. You also once walked in these things when you lived in them. But now put away all these things as well: anger, rage, malice, blasphemy, and filthy words from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its deeds and put on the new, which is being renewed in full knowledge according to the image of its Creator, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian nor Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bear with one another and forgive one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as Christ forgave you, do the same. Above all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond. Let God’s peace rule in your hearts, to which you were also called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you, teaching and encouraging one another in all wisdom, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:5-17)

\5. Walking in integrity

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

But why?

“Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

\6. Making an effort and overcoming

“Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

therefore,

“Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24)

“He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)

\7. Being obedient

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23)

\8. Remaining in Christ to be clean and thus bear fruit

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:1-6)