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Choosing the Narrow Way

Matthew 7:13-14

¹³Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. ¹⁴But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.

When the history of our nation in this and the preceding century is read in the centuries to come, it may well say it was one in which –

·        There was great creativity;

·        There was great individualism;

·        There was great freedom;

·        There was great license;

·        It was a time of no limits;

·        It was a time of little discipline;

·        It was a time of great immorality;

·        It was a time of little restraint;

·        It was a time of comfort and ease;

·        It was a time of spend now and let others pay later;

·        It was a time of greed and lust;

·        It was a time of squandered opportunity.

Before us today is an open door to bring a message of hope, healing, and deliverance to a world afflicted by oppression, disease, and addiction.

Today we must have a moral compass to guide us back to the government of God.

That moral compass is red – The Red Letter teachings of Jesus in the New Testament.

·        Be Reconciled;

·        Love Your Enemies;

·        Go The Extra Mile;

·        Be Perfect (Mature);

·        Do Unto Others;

·        Judge Not;

·        Keep Your Word;

·        Deny Yourself;

·        Let Your Light Shine;

·        Feed My Sheep;

·        Ask, Seek, Knock;

·        Be A Servant;

·        Lay Up Treasures.

These commands are the central truths which make up God’s kingdom.

In that kingdom, called the kingdom of Heaven, there is a new way to live in relationship with God.

The “easy way” is broad, spacious, and roomy.  There is plenty of room for diversity of opinions and laxity of morals.

The “broad way” is the way of the unthoughtful, undisciplined, ungodly, carnal, self-indulgent, way of least resistance.  Whatever feels good, do it.

While the broad way and easy way are shallow ways to live, this narrow, straight way is life-changing at the core or essence of your being.

It is not the life that is narrow, but the way that leads to it.

Jesus walked this “way,” but He gained for us “an abundant life.”

The broad, easy way eventually narrows until we are hard-pressed on every side as sin exacts its payment.

The narrow, hard way broadens as we live in the marvelous liberty of the son of God.