Matthew 7:13,14
The Road Less Traveled
On the outskirts of particular town there was a big
old hickory tree located inside a cemetery alongside the fence of the cemetery. One day two boys were filling up a bucket with hickory nuts as they sat down by that tree. One of the boys said, “One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me,” as they were counting out the hickory nuts a few of them spilled out and rolled down toward the fence.
Now another boy was riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, “One for you, one for me. One for you and one for me.” Well, he just knew what it was. He said, “Oh my! It’s Satan, and the Lord dividing the souls at the cemetery.”
He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along. The boy said, “Come here quick! You won’t believe what I just heard. Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls.”
The man doubted what he’d heard but figured he’d teach the boy about lying, and so he hobbled over to the cemetery. Standing outside by the fence they both heard the voice: “One for you, one for me. One for you and one for me.”
The old man whispered, “Boy, you’ve been telling the truth! Let’s see if we can see the devil himself.” Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of Satan.
At last they heard, “One for you, one for me; one for you and one for me. Now, let’s go get those nuts by the fence, and we’ll be done.” They say the old man beat the boy back to town!
It’s a silly old story but a reminder that, choosing is something that is unavoidable.
At the grocery store some people prefer paper sacks and some prefer plastic. Using a card, some choose credit, some choose debit. Some see a glass half-full and others see a glass half-empty.
As Jesus was nearing the end of His sermon on the mount, he takes up the matter of choosing. He mentions two roads that every man must choose between. The two roads lead to two different destinations.
Everyone may be divided up into one category or
the other. Every person in this room, every person listening to this message, every little boy and little girl, every young person, every mom and every dad, every person in Wilkes county, every person in the world is either going down one road or the other.
Now we’ll take a few minutes this morning and talk about each of these ways. There are some truths for us to learn about the broad way and the narrow way.
I. A FUNDAMENTAL DIVISION
As Jesus talked about these two ways He thought of all mankind in one of two groups. We often divide people in groups due to nationality, color of skin, social standing, education, etc. When it came to dividing people Jesus used neither of these factors. He divided people based on spiritual standards.
We see the division of all mankind in the words "many" (Vs. 13) and "few" (Vs. 14). Every person in this place is either in the "many" or the "few." The fact is all of mankind is one or the other. It matters not the color of ones skin or what your social standing, each person is either in the "many" or they are in the "few."
A. The MANY represent those that have REFUSED Christ
The "many" are those who have never been saved. The word "many" would imply that the majority in this world are in this class.
In this “many” there are many divisons of people. It is made up of depraved people. Among this crowd are those who favor the pleasures of sin and follow the paths of sin.
According to a CBS News report, more than $10 billion is spent each year in the U.S. on adult entertainment and pornography. In the U.S. there is more than $128 billion spent on alcoholic drinks. Our society is marked by indulgence, sensuality, and immorality.
This crowd is also made up of decent people. Not everyone in the “many” is sin and pleasure crazy. There are many in this “many” that are good, honest, moral and decent people. Some of the finest people you would ever meet are in this group. They are hard working employees, good neighbors, and outstanding citizens.
The “many” is also made up of deceived people. Some of the “many” are religious people. I classify them as deceived because although religious, they are not saved. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven."
The "many" represent the majority of this world; those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior.
B. The FEW represent those that have RECEIVED Christ
When Jesus referred to the "few" He was referring to the minority. Only heaven knows how many are truly saved, and no doubt there are millions who have received Christ who live in this world. Yet, they are the minority of the masses of this world. They are "few" compared to the "many" of this world.
I am thankful I can say that I am one of this "few."
II. AN ETERNAL DESTINATION
There are two divisions, and there are two separate destinations.
Jesus talked about how the broad way leads to "destruction" and the narrow way leads to "life."
A. How tragic the end for the unbeliever
The word "destruction" speaks of a "loss" or that which is "ruined." The broad way leads to spiritual ruin and the ultimate consequence is an eternity without God. In Luke 16:22-23 that "the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments." That is the destination of all who chose to follow the “many.”
"Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." It is the destination of a ruined life.
It is a deceptive road, for few upon it have any idea of where it is taking them.
Proverbs 14:12 declares, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
The broad, easy, pleasurable, popular path ultimately leads to death.
Jesus also talked about the strait and narrow way. In this we see:
B. How thrilling the end for the believer
Jesus said in verse 14 that the narrow way "leadeth unto life." What kind of life is Jesus talking about? The Bible says in John 3:16, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
This way may be "strait" and "narrow" but the destination is eternal life. The broad way leads to hell, but the narrow way leads to heaven. One leads to destruction and the other to life. One leads to a hell, and the other to heaven.
Hell is a place of eternal torments, but heaven is a place of eternal bliss. The decision that is before each of us today is which one do we want to spend eternity in?
III. A PERSONAL DECISION
Whether you spend eternity in hell or heaven is a simple personal decision!
Will you chose to take the narrow way? The word "enter" in verse 13 is in the aorist imperative tense which means that it speaks of a definite and specific action on our part. It is a call to make a decision. Each person must make the decision for himself to go through this gate.
Our daily life is made up of decisions. We make numerous decisions every day, such as what we will wear, eat, etc. There are some decisions that have little bearing on life, whereas there are some decisions that impact life greatly. This decision has eternal significance. It is the most important decision you will ever make in your life.
A husband and wife, prior to marriage, decided that he’d make all the major decisions, and she would make the minor ones. After 20 years of marriage, he was asked how this arrangement had worked. "Great! In all these years I’ve never had to make a major decision."
In this case, each person has to make a decision to enter the strait gate or not.
A. The broad way is the way of default (automatically).
The broad way is the way we go by doing nothing. What do you have to do to go to hell? NOTHING! To go to hell, a man needs to do absolutely nothing, for the Bible declares that man is already lost since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Jesus implies this in verse 13 when he says, "Enter ye in at the strait gate." He is urging us to get off the road that leads to hell.
B. The narrow way is the way of decision
We must make a deliberate decision, a choice, to go through the strait gate.
1. The basis of salvation denounced
The gate to heaven is very narrow. People say, "Christianity doesn’t leave room for anyone else’s view of salvation." That is exactly right. It is not because Christians are selfish or egotistical; God has only given one way for man to be saved. If God said there were forty- eight ways to be saved, I would preach all forty-eight! But there aren’t forty-eight ways to salvation.
2. The basis of salvation defined
In Acts 4:12, we read, "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life ... " (Jn. 14:6). First Timothy 2:5 tells us, "... there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus."
3. The basis of salvation determined
Christ is the only way to salvation. The way is narrow. There are no alternatives. You must enter by an act of the will and an act of faith; you have to enter on God’s terms through God’s prescribed gate. Christ is that gate (Jn. 10:9). He is the only way. Holy God has the right to determine the basis of salvation, and He has determined that it is through Jesus Christ alone. Truth is, by nature, very narrow. Jesus
taught a very narrow salvation. It was Jesus who said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." That is a very theologically narrow statement.
The Bible declares that there is salvation in no other but Jesus Christ.
The way of life is the narrow gate and
the narrow path. But we must make that choice to enter. Salvation is not automatic. What is automatic is that, because of our sin, we deserve hell and we are headed there unless we receive Jesus Christ. Without Christ we die and our soul spends eternity in hell unless we enter into the narrow gate.
You must personally accept Christ as your personal Saviour.
Conclusion:
So here’s the question this morning: If God were to divide us into one group or another, which group would you find yourself in? You’re either saved or lost. You’re either on the road to life or the road to death.
To me, there is no choice. When I think of heaven and hell, the difference in the two, there is no choice. But then, there is a choice that has to be personally made by each person here. Will you enter the narrow way?
What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be!
