Jump Start # 182

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way narrow that leads to life and there are few who find it.”

  The way to life is what Jesus is describing here. This passage is stuffed full of contrasts and opposites. Notice, there are two gates, two paths or roads, two crowds, and two destinations. Focus upon the destination of Life—not so much here and now, but Heaven. Life is in contrast to destruction.

  The way to life is narrow, the gate is small and the crowd is few. The King James Version uses the word “strait” not STRAIGHT, but strait meaning confining, tight. Consider driving on a stretch of highway that is as flat as far as you can see. With one hand on the wheel it is an easy drive. Contrast that to driving a narrow and winding mountainous road with a steep drop off. Both hands are on the wheel, you slow down and even hold your breath a bit. One is easy the other takes all that you have.

  This is what Jesus wants you to see. Losing your soul is a cake walk. Any one can do it and most are. You don’t think. You don’t consider influence, consequences. You don’t have to grow spiritually. You do what you want to do. Like going to school—it’s easy to flunk. It’s hard to make the honor roll. Like marriage—it’s easy to make your mate miserable. It’s hard to have an incredible relationship. Sadly, so many are losing their soul and they don’t even know it. They are just living one day at a time until they finally run out of days.

  The way to life on the other hand, is that of careful and diligent consideration. The person seeking life wants to find it so he will think about all the Lord has said. His behavior, language, attitude and worship all come into check. He travels through life with both hands on the wheel and carefully paying attention. He is not on auto pilot. He is not going through the motions. He is genuine, sincere and earnest about getting to Heaven. He doesn’t care if others do not understand him, he’s on a mission.

  The way to life is a careful journey. It does matter what movies you watch, what books you read and what you do. It does matter who you hang out with. It does matter what you say and how you say it. It matters. That’s the thing that folks on the easy road don’t get—it matters!

  The way to life will be a lonely journey. It is not isolation. Compared to the number heading to destruction those seeking life are few. In Revelation the number is so large that it could not be counted. That’s encouraging, yet still, the number lost is even greater. This means, what’s in, what’s popular, what’s hot this year, what everyone has to have, what everyone must do most times won’t make the list of those seeking life. They are going a different direction.

  The end of the journey takes us all to either life or destruction. It is not predetermined by God. It is not genetic. It is not that one couldn’t help it. It is a matter of which road one chooses to travel. Most want the easy, popular and broad way and then end up with life. That road won’t give you life. You can’t have both. A person can switch destinations and they often do. But staying on the broad way ends up in destruction and staying on the narrow way leads to life.

  Simple verse about life, destination and choices. Everyone wants life, but do they want to travel the narrow way to get it? This passage says no. Narrow—there are not a lot of options. There are not a lot of opinions—in fact, there is only one, God’s. Paul said in Eph 4 –there is ONE FAITH, ONE LORD, ONE BAPTISM, ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT, ONE HOPE, ONE GOD. There is God’s way. Are you willing to give up yourself and travel His way. It leads to Him. It leads to life. It’s narrow. Few are on it. It takes your all to make it. But it is so worth it!

Roger