The concept of two ways set before mankind for a choice of either, which Jesus Christ expounded on in his famous sermon on the Mount, dates back to antiquity. God in the law through Moses had put it to ancient Israel. In very clear terms Jesus described the ways as “narrow” and “broad”. Though the freedom to choose either of the ways is left with everyone, he enjoined his disciples to go into the narrow way in their own interest. In spite of this, men who claim to be his servants in this end-time take delight not only in ignoring his wise counsel but also in alluring others to the broad way. This is the bane of sinful mankind.
Since the great controversy between good and evil took a downturn adverse to man because of his disobedience in the Garden of Eden, God in His infinite mercy and magnanimity had not ceased to warn His children against the wily acts of Satan the devil and the consequences of doing his bidding. He made man a free moral being endowed with the attribute of wisdom as to know and distinguish between good and evil. He allows him to choose for himself either good or evil on the condition that He (God) will judge and deal with him according to his choice.
In the days of Moses, God, having assured the Israelites of His abundant care over them, stated: “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandment of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way of which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.”- Deut. 11:26-28. On another occasion, God recalled His words and indicated in unmistakable terms that the choice was either of life or death. He then cautioned the children of Israel to choose life. As it is written: “See, have set before thee this day life and good, death and evil; I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the LORD thy God and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”- Deut, 30:15, 19-20.
SERMON
Jesus Christ who was sent by God Almighty the Father to declare His purpose to mankind and effect redemption through the shedding of his perfect blood fulfilled his mission without blemish. In his sermon on the Mount, he said that no one should think that he came to destroy the law or the prophets, and that he came not to destroy but to fulfil. He then declared: “For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. -Matt. 5:17, 18.
It was in continuation of that sermon, Jesus Christ brought into a vivid focus what has become know in popular theology as the “Narrow Way” and the “Broad Way”. Said he, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”- Matt. 7:13,14.
The gate to the Narrow Way is strait in the sense of difficulty arising from oppositions and persecutions by enemies of God, and restrictions by reason of rules based on the word of God with which the people in the way must comply. It is not a way in which one is free to do what one pleases without regard for God and His word. “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other. so that ye cannot do the things ye would”, said St. Paul “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Gal. 5:17,18.
Because of the standard of morality, self-control and godliness required in the way the ungodly, immoral and pleasure seekers are frightened to go into it. To pass through the strait or difficult gate into the Narrow Way, true conversion or rebirth is a prerequisite. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Verily, verily say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3) And St. Paul Stated “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” -2 Cor. 5:17
The old things to be done away with as to be at peace with God and enjoy the Narrow Way are the works of the flesh such as adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, contentions, jealousies, envy, wrath, selfish ambitions, dissension, heresies, murders, drunkenness, lying, stealing and so on. Whereas the new creature is one renewed in spirit and mind to practise righteousness and holiness whereby he walks in love, faith, and is kind forgiving, patient and temperate. Gal. 5:19-23; Eph. 4:22-32; 5:8-13; Col. 3:5-15.
Jesus said that he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matt. 9:13) Therefore, the Narrow Way is meant for sinners who are contrite in spirit and have no pleasure in sin. They make sincere efforts through repentance and obedience to the truth to attain to holiness in the fear of God.
Long before the first advent of Jesus Christ, there was this prophecy, to wit:”And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools shall not err therein.” (Isa. 35:8) It is this way the “Way of Holiness” – Jesus pointed to as the Narrow Way. The most significant thing about the way for which reason our Lord and Saviour directed his disciples to enter into it, is the fact that it leads to life – life eternal. Notwithstanding, he stated that “few there be that find it.” Viewed against this background of the truth and salient feature of true Christianity, those who cherish the present trend of proliferation of churches or think that Christianity is intended to convert the world are making very serious mistake. The truth which is the hallmark of the Narrow Way true Christians peculiar and not popular because like Jesus put it, “men loved darkness (falsehood deceit and hypocrisy) rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19-21) Some fanatics are prepared to stone you for preaching and laying stress on the truth but if in pretence you claim, and claim it loud, that you have power to heal all manner of diseases, raise the dead, make the barren to be fruitful, and the poor rich, shouts of “Hal- le-lujah!” will rent the air and you will pull in the crowds.
For the fact that even in the days of Jesus Christ only a few were attracted by the truth rather than by his wonders or miracles, an observer asked him, Are there few that be saved? His answer was, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (Luke 13:24) This gives the same understanding that the strait gate into the Narrow Way is not easy but peculiar and vitally important.
BROAD WAY
And in contrast to the Narrow Way, Jesus Christ spoke of the Broad Way and the wide gate into it. This is a way that can accommodate all false religionists and prophets, liars, sorcerers, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, thieves, fraudsters, tricksters, and what have you. Some, like among the false prophets who are the counterparts of the Pharisees, attempt to set up their own standard of righteousness which is not the righteousness of God. (Rom. 10:1-3)
They go to any length and spend large sums of money to win converts yet they all swim and make merry in the Broad Way. And upon such ones Jesus pronounced curse, as it is written. “Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Matt. 23:15
The gate to the Broad Way is wide open to all dubious characters and because restrictions of the law of God and judgements are absent, it is loose and unlimitedly accommodative. It is the bed of roses to all who are covetous, proud, blasphemers, ingrates false accusers, covenant-breakers, men without natural affection, brutal, despisers of those that are good, traitors stubborn, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its powers. Though popular the road appears to men, Jesus made bare the fact that it “leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” Indeed, all that glitters is not gold
The option left to all men and women of goodwill is to make sincere efforts to identify the Narrow Way and enter into it not because of wealth, miracles or numerical strength of people, but for the reason of the truth and righteousness of the course. Thus it is written: “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusted in Thee: Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” (Isa. 26:2-4) And Jesus Christ said it all, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Therefore, strive to go into the strait gate and tread on joyfully in the Narrow Way to life eternal in the World Without End.