The Narrow Way

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. Matthew 7:13-14

How narrow is the narrow way? We know that sin cannot enter the narrow way, our sins must be washed away by the blood of Jesus, and our hearts made clean and free. Do we sometimes equate the narrow way to God being a hard, austere master? We do not want to make the way wider than that which God allows, but rather that we would understand how merciful God really is.

While Jesus was on the earth, reached out with compassion and love to the downtrodden sinners. While Jesus promises peace and joy if man comes to Him; Satan seeks to make the narrow way look exceedingly narrow, and impossible to go through. He has been very successful with this tactic in the lives of many people, who are not enlightened by the Holy Spirit. If we go to the Psalms, David writes that God had placed him in a large room. This scripture indicates a freedom that comes in a life which is fully surrendered to God. And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room. Psalms 31:8

The truth is that the narrow way is a way of mercy, grace, and freedom. To enter the narrow way takes a full surrender of heart and life to God. This may sound like a huge thing, which in a sense it is, but unless we do, we will never experience the life that God can give us in return for our old life. The narrow way looks difficult to the flesh but is a way of grace which when complete in the heart, becomes a broad way. That may not make sense, but the change that takes place as we in faith give our hearts and lives over to God is indescribable unless we have experienced it. God’s grace is large and free for all who will come. He desires that we not focus on the narrowness of the way, but on His abundant grace and mercy.

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Isaiah 55 :1

It is Satan’s game for us to look at the narrow way as bondage and without freedom. He will readily remind us of the enjoyable things we may need to surrender and reveal about ourselves if we want to walk the narrow way. Satan promises that we can do whatever we want to and have all the freedom we want while taking his way, and there is no need to be that serious about life. However, this is subtle thinking because we can never get away from the convicting hand of God who is wanting to draw us to him. There is a bondage with Satan that lust and pleasure never satisfy, leaving people empty and driven for more of the same. It may seem to them they are free to enjoy life without a surrender to God, but in reality, are a slave to a master who cares nothing for their soul. His only goal is to take them to hell with him, where they will be tormented forever for the choices they made.

Satan has manufactured other religions, and Jesus’s, to sooth men’s troubled souls. He may offer them an emotionally charged religion which has a sense of truth, focuses primarily on a personal relationship with Christ, and praise, while disregarding other teachings in the Bible. There are other ones which build on works to earn salvation, and a hope that if they do enough good works, they will be able to enter heaven. There are yet other religions that are based on other gods, forms of idolatry, which all fulfill the basic need that man has for worship and a higher power. Many of these religions, faiths, or whatever you may call them, have a root in fear which is the driving force to make them work.

Fear drives people to do more and more in hopes that they can earn favor with God, this may even enter praise worship. People praise God to find favor with him. All these can be tools of Satan to captivate man from following the call of God to enter the narrow way.

Fear is not a motivating factor with God. In fact, fear does not have a part in a loving relationship with him. True love casts out fear. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 Fear is a natural human reaction to the unknown, but when our love, faith and trust are in God fear disappears. The only reason that God allows fear is to draw us to Him.

There is a healthy fear of God which denotes respect, and judgment. Though a Christian may be tempted at times with fear, it is not really a part of the narrow way. Fear of judgment and the afterlife are what motivate us to seek Him, but while walking in a trusting relationship with God, fear disappears. God does not have a “buddy” relationship with us, but one which is like a father-son relationship where we are secure knowing that God is there to help and guide us through life. Our faith and trust in God will allay many fears.

At times our faith becomes weak and subsequently fear and unbelief are soon to follow. When we bring these fears to our heavenly Father, his love removes them and we can live free from fear. While the fear of God and judgment will cause us to seek the narrow way, the fear of surrender will keep us from the narrow way. Bring those fears to Him, surrender your life, and enjoy the fear free narrow way where you will find true peace and freedom.

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. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:8-10