LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 7:13, “Enter the narrow gate; for wide is the way and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.   Jesus

 

It has already been written that the wide gate is easy to go through. The reality of this is people are already on the broad way if they do not give their life to the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. This way is attractive and draws people to it. Jesus said that the broad way is an easy way that is not difficult to walk or travel on. However, it is a way that leads to destruction; it is eternal life in spent in torment and pain in the pit of hell. This torment is knowledge of who God is and an eternity spent separated from Him. The terrifying part of this is “many are on it”.

 

To understand this one must consider that hell does exist. If hell exists, one must further consider that the devil, Lucifer, Satan exists as well. One must also consider that judgment will come to all of those who walk this broad way.

 

The debate over the existence of hell has been around for as long as Lucifer was removed from heaven. Isaiah 14:12-14 tells us Lucifer was removed was removed from heaven because he desired to “exalt his throne above the stars of God”. Earth came under the devil’s influence and control (but limited by God); since that time, he has tempted and tried to destroy all God has created. He even tried to tempt Jesus Christ to bow to and follow him. The devil is not the red figured cartoon figure with a pitchfork we see in the cartoons. No, he is so much more than that. John 10:10 calls him, “a thief who comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy” people’s lives, health, families, purpose in life, and everything good God has created. He is the robber who “does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1).

             

A thief comes to steal the property of another person. Matthew 24 warns us that in the last days, there will be many false teachers who have come to deceive many, even God’s people. They will try to deceive people from entering the narrow gate. It must be acknowledged that thus has happened since the time the serpent deceived Adam and Eve. The deception came in the form of creating doubt over what God has said and making false accusations and false promises. Nothing has changed regarding the tactics of Satan. False teachers have invaded every aspect of society, promising an easy way to eternity. Today, such teachers, used by Satan, do not come in through the right door or with God’s divine commission; they come with deception and take away many who desire an easy way into “heaven”.

 

What does the broad way look like? Many on the broad way are good people, many are just evil, and many are deceived or blinded to Jesus Christ as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). They desire to walk into heaven without giving up any of their old way of life. The Sower of the seed sowed seeds that were gobbled up by the birds. Some who heard the gospel became too busy living the life they desired; and others had the gospel choked out by desiring earthly pleasures and earthly gain; the process became more important than living in and walking the way God desires His people to live.

 

Why does the Bible give us so much information about life on the broad way that leads to destruction? Why am I spending time trying to help you understand the broad way? It is to help us all understand that we do not want to walk on it nor want anyone else to do so. The narrow way is the only way to eternal life in God’s kingdom