The Narrow Way

The Narrow Way

Near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus starts to wrap up His message
with a warning: “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.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

If this warning was not enough to grab your attention, just a few verses later he
adds to it: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 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!’”
(Matthew 7:21-23)
These passages should provide some very sobering food for thought.

Narrow vs Broad Ways

In what sense is the way to life narrow? I don’t believe Jesus is saying the way to
life is beyond the capacity of anyone. On the contrary, Jesus came to save all men.
Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me... for my yoke is easy and
my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30). Anyone who is willing can walk the way
that leads to life.

The way is narrow because it is specific. There is only one way to life -- do the will
of the Father. Jesus does not, as do many today, speak of “many different roads”
to heaven. The way is narrow because truth is narrow. It is not subject to many
different interpretations. The law of gravity is the same law for you, for me, and
for people in China and Ethiopia. Gravity does not change with culture, belief, or
experience. So it is with the law of God. There is one God, there is one revealed
will, and there is one way to eternal life. Jesus is the way (John 14:6). Those who
trust in Him and are devoted to following Him will have life. They will, by virtue
of that trust and devotion, learn and follow the will of God.

Jesus warns in Matthew 7:14-20 of those who would lead us away from the
narrow way. The narrow way can be difficult because Jesus asks us to change. He
asks us to do things we might otherwise not do. Others will show us an easier,
broader way. False prophets will come and teach things in the name of Jesus that
are not according to the will of God. They will look like believers (“sheep’s
clothing”), but they will be destructive (“ravenous wolves”) in their works and
teaching. The way to life is narrow, but there are many, many ways that lead to
destruction.

“Lord, Lord”

In Matthew 7:21-23 we see people seeking to enter the kingdom of heaven. They
seem to be devoted believers, calling Christ “Lord.” They seem zealous, having
done many works and wonders in His name. Yet, Jesus turns them away. Why?
Jesus said only those who do the will of the Father will enter in. These believers
were practicing lawlessness. Their actions were not according to the will of God.
What had they done that caused Jesus to call them lawless? We aren’t told
specifically. We do know that Jesus said, “I never knew you.” Evidently they had
never submitted themselves to Christ. They called Him “Lord” yet did not yield
themselves to His will.

If we are going to enter into life, we must know the will of the Father. Knowing
His will requires study and diligence. We need to be people of the book. We need
to know what we believe and why. We need to be able to provide a “thus saith the
Lord” for our beliefs and practices. We need to know God’s word so thoroughly
that we know what is not in it. Jesus said only those that do the will of the Father
will enter the kingdom. Before we can do it, we must know it.

If we are going to enter into life, we must do the Father’s will. It is not enough to
know what God wants, we need to practice it. We were redeemed for a purpose.
The sacrifice Jesus made was intended to sanctify us so that we could be God’s
own special people (1 Peter 1-2). We need to live sanctified lives in imitation of
Jesus, living according to the will of God.

Jesus said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do the things that I say?”
(Luke 6:46). Let us make Jesus Lord indeed!
- Patrick Gaughan

______
A “Cauld Kirk”
(cold church)

18 th century poet Robert Burns once visited a church in Lamington, Scotland. He
received neither a welcome handshake or a friendly word from any of the
members. He quickly penned the following lines and left them when he
departed:

As cauld a wind as ever blew;
A caulder kirk, and in’t but few;
As cauld a minister’s e’er spak;
Ye’ll all be hot ere I come back.

How is it with us? Do our visitors receive a sincere, warm welcome? I think they
do, but just consider what a tragedy it would be if someone seeking the truth were
turned away because of my failure to make them feel welcome where that truth is
being taught !

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