WHICH WAY ARE YOU CHOOSING?

Matt. 7:13-14: 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 there at ¹⁴Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

                                                                                                                                                                   

Matthew 7:13-14 is one of the statements made on the famous Sermon on the Mount.  The picture portrayed by Jesus is not a choice between two gates, but a choice between two ways of life – the broad way and the narrow way. Both ways are not last minute decisions but the result of choices that we make as we tread the path of life. The broad way with wide gate where a lot of people will prefer to walk leads to destruction whiles the narrow way with strait gate where only a few people will choose leads to eternal life. Which way are you treading?

Difference between the gates

No	Broad way	Narrow way
1.	It is wide	It is narrow
2.	It is crowded	It is not crowded
3.	It is the way of the ungodly	It is the way of wisdom (Prov. 4:11,6:23, 10:17)
4.	It provides prosperity but adds sorrow to it (Ps.73:3-19)	It is a righteous way (Prov. 8:20,12:28)
5.	It is the way of darkness (Prov. 4:19)	It follows the steps of Christ (Ps. 85:13,Jn. 10:27-28)

Reasons for entering the wide gate to walk the broad way

1. Fear of Being Ridiculed

One of the strongest reasons people have for choosing the wrong way is the fear of being ridiculed and rejected by friends and associates. In Matthew 5:11-12, also part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave the command to rejoice when people speak evil of us for His sake. In the world today, we should rejoice when people speak evil of us for living the righteous life because this evil speaking by the multitude confirms that we have chosen the right way. As a child of God, do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults to cause you to walk the broad way (Isaiah 51:7).

2. Pleasures of Sin

There is pleasure in sin but it lasts for only a short season and then there is grief and remorse. We should therefore reject the temporary pleasures of evil and the temporary sufferings for Christ. This was a decision that Moses faced as a young man in Egypt. But he made a different choice (Hebrews 11: 24-26). Remember, the pleasure on the broad way is for a short time.

3. Natural Feelings

The things we naturally want to do seem right to us, yet God warns us in Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” This warning is so important that it is repeated in Proverbs 16:25. The truth is that our natural inclinations are directly opposite to the ways of God (Isaiah 55: 8, 9; 1corin. 3:19). We must recognize the wisdom of God’s command and as Proverbs 3:5 says – “…Lean not on our own understanding”, else you will find yourself on the broad way.

4. Admiration of Human Idols

In the days of Noah when evil was rampant, multitudes of people admired and followed some human examples. People corrupted themselves in abominable ways (Gen. 6:4-6). Today, there are also heroes who receive the acclaim of millions of people whose ways do not honour the ways of God and multitudes are led down the broad way to destruction by these people (idols). Note that, an idol can only live contrary to God’s law.

5. The Destructive Nature of Sin

In the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, we see how an entire city, nation, or civilization can become completely corrupt and also in the days of Noah (Genesis 6: 5-6, 11-12). Why does this happen? Sin works like leaven or yeast. A little sin that is tolerated and allowed to grow soon infects an entire host of people. Satan is today perverting the world and leading people the broad way through the strategy of Tolerance which leads to acceptance and then imitation. Sin, no matter its form, should never be tolerated by the Christian.

6. Increasing Darkness

Proverbs 4:19 “The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.” In contrast “the path of the just is like the shining sun That shines brighter unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18). The more people enjoy the pleasures of sin, the darker becomes their way and the more they hate the light, because their deeds are evil. John 3:20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

How can we walk in the way of life?

1. Ask God to show you His way.

This was the prayer of David in Psalm 27:11 “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.” If you are serious about finding the right way (narrow way), you will be shown by God what it is.

2. Choose to follow Christ.

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

Jesus also said: “I am the light of the world; He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

3. Listen to your conscience.

When you face a decision, your conscience will usually indicate to you what the right choice is and convict you if you make the wrong choice. When we exercise the conscience by obeying it and strengthen its direction by the Holy Spirit operating within us as believers, we are able to walk in the right way and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)

4. Choose to die to self.

The way to eternal life is to die to our own personal ambitions and indulgences, whereas the way to eternal death is to demand these very things. Therefore, Jesus said in Matthew 16: 25 “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Conclusion

In our world today, God is still urging everyone to turn from foolishness and sin to the true and living way. The Broadway is spacious and there seem to be no limitation on the number of people it will accommodate. Any decision we make or any path we take which opposes Jesus Christ is the Broad-way that leadeth to destruction, and this is a simple fact. Jesus is the Way of life, and Jesus is the door through which we can gain eternal life. He is also the means by which eternal life is secured for us.

Jesus admonishes us to enter through the straight gate and narrow way which at this point in time obviously remains open. I’m encouraging you not to look out for popular opinion which always fails us in the end.

Today I ask you – are you choosing the narrow way? It leads to eternal life. So make the right choice TODAY! Amen.

Prayer: Pray to God to grant you the grace to walk on the narrow way that leads to eternal life.