MATTHEW 7:13-14: “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. NLT

OBSERVATION: It is a NEW YEAR and a new journey! The past year is in the books and rearview mirror. The year ahead is wide open. As I begin to travel down the highway of life, I need to answer one important question.

What road am I on?

Have you ever been lost? When I lived in Southern California, the mountains were to the North and the flatland to the South. It was easy to correct my directions by simply looking for the mountains. Then, one day, something happened. I was heading home from an area I was unfamiliar with. A dense fog rolled in, and I could not see the mountains. I was driving blind, and I did not know…

What road I was on!

This is very easy to do in life and in our walk with the Lord. Temptation is not always the enemy trying to get us to fall into overt sin. Temptation can be simply taking the wrong turn in life. It is to take our eyes off the road for those few seconds that result in a rear-end collision or driving into a ditch.

It is choosing the wrong road!

Jesus begins his discourse about the pathway of life with two gates. One is narrow, and one is wide. The narrow gate leads to life. The wide gate leads to death. Few enter the narrow gate while the majority of people herd toward the easy and wide gate. The narrow gate only allows for one person to enter at a time. You must leave all your baggage behind, as it will not fit through the gate. The wide gate allows you to take all your baggage with you.

The narrow gate leads to life, abundant life, and eternal life.

The wide gate offers temporary pleasure but ends in death and separation from God.

Yet, Jesus does not only focus on the gate we choose. He also speaks about the road we travel. The gate is narrow, and the road is straight. We do not enter the narrow gate only to resume our journey on the road of our choosing. Rather, the narrow gate leads to a life of discipleship and obedience. Neither of these produces salvation. It is faith alone that allows one to enter the narrow gate. Yet, true faith will be marked by the pathway one travels.

Jesus continues with a contrast of the road one travels.

First, there is the road to fruitfulness (Matthew 7:15-20). The straight way produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. There are many today who proclaim to be believers, even teachers in the church. Yet, it is not their words that define their faith; it is their fruit. A life of faith produces a life of faithful action. It is a life that is defined by the character of Christ and the golden rule. It is a life that is growing in the fruits of the Spirit and is invested in helping others. A life that is focused on selfishness and gain is a life that is on the wrong road.

Second, Jesus speaks about the road of obedience (Matthew 7:21-23). The road of life is not judged by what we accomplish. Rather, it is judged by what we become. Jesus made it clear, we can prophesy, cast out demons, work miracles, and still be on the wrong road. Paul made a similar observation in I Corinthians 13.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3: “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” NLT

Our works do not define the road we are on. A life of accomplishments is nothing if it is not followed by a life of obedience to God and a life of love that is focused on helping others.

Finally, Jesus speaks about two foundations (Matthew 7:24-27). If the road we are traveling is not built on solid rock, it will not stand the test of time. If the road we are traveling is built on the sand of following the way we choose, we will see the foolishness of our choice when we are faced with the floods of life. Only the road that is built on solid rock, the Word of God, will stand against the storms of life. Only the road that produces the fruit of the Spirit, a life of love and obedience, and lives surrendered to the Word of God, will lead to life, an abundant life, and eternal life.

So, it is time to take a look at our map. Are we following a map that we have created, or are we entering the narrow way (salvation by faith in Jesus Christ) and traveling down the straight way (fruitfulness, obedience, and surrender)?

When I was young, my father would go to AAA and get a Trip-Tik that outlined the route he wanted to travel. In life, this would be the broad gate and the wide way. We go where we want, do what we want, and believe what we want. Yet, the narrow gate and the straight way call us to lay down our lives (Trip-Tik), pick up our cross, and follow God’s roadmap for life.

The narrow gate is faith in Jesus Christ, and the roadmap for life is the revealed Word of God in the Bible!

Lord, thank you for faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is Your gift that allows me to enter the narrow gate, by grace through faith in His death and resurrection. Now, as I begin a New Year, grant me the grace and empower me with the Holy Spirit, to stay on the straight way of Your Word!

In Jesus’ Name!