Are You in the Narrow Way?

(Article for publication week of 5-8- AD 2013)

“Enter ye in at the strait 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 is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it “ (Matthew 7:13-14).

Dear reader, are you in the narrow way? According to my text, you are right now in one of two ways- you are either in the narrow way that leads to heaven, or you are in the broad way that leads to hell. There is no middle ground; there is no other way but these two.

I ask you not if you are religious. Many of you are religious as all get out, but you are in the broad way, not the narrow way. I ask you not if you have “accepted Jesus.” That terminology is not in the Bible, and you don’t accept a Lord, you bow down to Him, and Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. There are many of you that have made some kind of profession, or “accepted Jesus”, so-called, but you are in the broad way, and unless you get out of the broad way, and enter into the narrow way, you are going to wind up in hell forever and ever. Many of you are irreligious and living ungodly lives, but you vainly imagine that you will escape the wrath of God, and you are in the broad way, not the narrow way.

The vast majority of you are in the broad way. My text says, for there are ‘few” who enter into the narrow way by the strait gate. The narrow way that leads to God and heaven is the way of true holiness and perseverance, and there are but a few in that way. The way that leads to hell and destruction is broad enough to accommodate about everything. It is broad enough to accommodate scandalous sin, imagined morality and dead profession as well. The devil doesn’t care if you are living in open sin, or if you are outwardly moral, or if you are lost in the church, he’s got you any way.

Now if you claim to be in the narrow way, I have another question for you- how did you get into the narrow way? My text says there is only one way to get into the narrow way, and that is through the strait gate. The word “strait” is somewhat archaic, and is not used that much today, so we need to be sure we know what it means. The word “strait” means “difficult”. Contrary to what many teach today, salvation, or true conversion is not easy, it is difficult. Now be sure you understand, salvation is simple, but simplicity and ease are two different things. Conversion is simply repenting of your sins and believing in Christ. That is so simple a little child can be saved, if and when the Holy Spirit draws him. Salvation is so simple, a simple-minded person can be saved, and that is good, because I am a simple-minded man. But repentance and faith are not as easy as most think. In fact I will tell you it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to repent and believe in Christ without a supernatural work of God. Our Lord said in John 6:44, “no man CAN come to me, except the Father which sent Me draw him.” Dear reader, please heed my text if you value your never dying soul. If you have not entered through the strait gate, you are not in the narrow way, and your case is desperate. Dear reader, if you claim to be saved without going through the strait gate, I fear for your soul, and pray the Lord may have mercy upon you before it is too late.

I want to be sure that you understand that Christ Himself is this gate of conversion. He said Himself in John 10: 7, “I am the door.” I can point you to the door, but you must enter in. May the Lord by the power and personality of His Holy Spirit draw you to Himself today.