“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is that gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
The wide gate is not marked, “This way to hell.”
If the wide gate were marked that way, who would take that road? “Yeah. I think I would like to completely destroy my marriage, my family, and my life. That sounds like a great plan. I want what that gate provides.” Who does that?
So, the devil marks the wide gate with the sign, “This way to life,” just as the sign above the narrow gate. The devil promises happiness, pleasure, success, and everything else needed for life. And, at first, those who enter through the wide gate and travel down its path experience momentary happiness, pleasure, success. If it didn’t, who would stay on that road.
What the traveler on the wide road doesn’t know that its ultimate destination is destruction and hell.
No one gets up in the morning and says, “Boy, let’s royally mess up my life today by having an affair.” But many do. How?
They choose what is easy. Instead of working on marriage, communication, and staying faithful, they choose what is easy. Instead of staying on the road of faithfulness and obedience to God’s word and God’s plan, we choose what is convenient. Instead of listening to God we listen to our hearts.
Friends, there is only one gate that leads to the road to life. That gate is the way of Jesus. He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. There is no other way to live than to live life according to the ways of Jesus. You discover how to live the way of Jesus by reading and studying his word.
Stay on the path. When you deviate, get back on the road. When you get lost, return to Jesus.
Praxis: Faith in Action 