The Road Less Travelled

Like these men we cannot escape the fact that we bear some of the responsibility for the fact that thousands of people every day die and go to Hell because we failed to warn them.

Now let’s turn our attention to the 2nd way,

II. THE WAY OF DESTRUCTION:

Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.”

The word translated destruction does not mean total annihilation. The person who enters eternity through this gate does not cease to exist. Instead, the word destruction is a reference to the utter and complete loss of well being. The way of Destruction ends in Hell. Let’s take a few minutes to look at some of the characteristics of this way.

The First characteristic of the way of destruction is that…

(1) IT IS BROAD.

It’s like a superhighway, like I-75 that goes through Atlanta or I-95 that goes through Washington D.C.

This is the kind of way that many people in our society prefer. Most people today would define a broad minded person as someone who is open, affirming, loving and accepting of everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation.

On the other hand our society would define a ‘narrow minded” person as someone who is judgmental, condemning, and intolerant.

In our day and time people who are broad-minded are considered to be ‘enlightened’ while those of us who are more ‘narrow-minded” are considered to be just plain ignorant.

A Seocnd characteristic of the broad way is that…

(2) There’s plenty of room for everyone.

You don’t have to believe a certain way to travel on this particular road. In fact you don’t have to believe in anything at all. Any and all beliefs are acceptable.

After all, those who take the broad way mistakenly believe that all roads lead to Heaven.

A third Characteristic of The way of Destruction is that:

(3) It is the most popular way.

In other words, it’s like being on I-65 on a holiday weekend, there are people everywhere. The Broad way is the most popular, it is the way of the majority, and that’s what makes it so appealing, yet so dangerous.

The way of the majority has the appearance of being the right way. Because so many people have chosen this way, logic or conventional wisdom would say that this must be the right way. After all, how could so many people be wrong?

Illustration: Once upon a time a spider built a beautiful web in an old run down house. He made sure to keep it clean and shiny so that the flies would patronize it. The minute he got a ‘customer’ he would eat him so the other flies wouldn’t get suspicious. Then one day a fairly intelligent fly came buzzing by. The big spider called out to him and said, “why don’t you come on in and sit for a while. But the fly wouldn’t fall for that trick. He said, “No sir, I don’t see any other flies in your house and I’m not about to come in there by myself!”

A little later the fly spotted a large group of flies who appeared to be dancing on a sheet of brown paper. He was excited because he loved to dance. Just as he was making his final approach and was about to land on the paper a bee buzzed by and said, “don’t land there stupid, that’s ‘flypaper.”