Articles

The Narrow Way

Posted on 03/18/08

If you look at a map of the Rocky Mountain States, you will notice a serpentine line that winds its way from north to south, tracing through some of the highest peaks and roughest terrain in the United States. If you look close enough, you will see that this line represents what is commonly called "The Great Divide." It is a watershed that divides one side of the continent from the other.

What makes the Divide so special is that all the moisture that falls on one side flows into streams and then rivers that ultimately lead to the Atlantic Ocean. The moisture that falls on the other side of the line flows into different rivers and streams that ultimately end in the Pacific.

The Great Divide that I want to you to focus on today is not a winding course across a great mountain range, but a line that separates men and women, good and evil, even life and death. There is a Great Divide in all our lives and it is the cross of Christ. The cross, and the message it represents divides us all.

First, the cross divides our eternal destiny. Jesus spoke of the "broad way" and the "narrow way". The "broad way" is "wide" and "broad." The way of the world is easy, attractive, inclusive and permissive. There are few rules, restrictions or requirements. This "broad" way is comfortable and popular but it leads to "destruction" (Hell). Sadly, many have chosen this easy path and will pay for it eternally.

The "narrow way" is exactly what it sounds like - "narrow". Some Bible teachers picture this "gate" like a turnstile at an amusement park, we can only go through one at a time. No one can go through for us and we can bring no one with us.

Jesus said His path is "difficult." It's a path of resistance. It is like swimming up stream. We pay nothing for salvation but life in Christ ultimately costs us everything. When a person is genuinely saved and totally identifies with Jesus, Satan declares war on him. This path leads to eternal life, but "few there be that find it".  This path is taken by "few." Believers are not "few" because the gate is too "narrow." There is no limit to the number who can go through. There is no housing shortage in heaven.  There are "few" means it's much easier to flow along the wide path than to give your life to Christ.

Second, the cross also divides our thinking. Unsaved people think the message of the cross is "foolishness", while those who know the Lord know that the message of the cross is the power of God unto salvation.

Third, the cross also divides relationships. In Matthew 10, Jesus warned that He came with peace and with a sword. The sword represents the division that comes when someone accepts Christ as Savior.  Some folks will be offended and alienated because of that.

It's a simple fact - the cross is a dividing line. Which way will you take - the narrow path or the broad path?