TWO WAYS TO LIVE

MATTHEW 7:1

A. "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 THAT GO IN THEREAT. BECAUSE STRAIT IS THE GATE, AND NARROW IS THE WAY, WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE, AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT."
  1. These words show clearly that Christ recognizes only two ways to live:
    1. The broad way.
    2. The narrow way.
  2. He emphasizes the end of each of these two ways of life:
    1. The broad way leads to destruction.
    2. The narrow way leads to life everlasting.
B. THE BROAD HIGHWAY OF LIFE
  1. Has a wide entrance:
    1. Very convenient to enter.
    2. Allows men to take along many of their acquired sinful habits.
  2. But it is seductive or misleading:
    1. It is spiritually dark. - Prov. 2:13
    2. It is crooked. - Ps. 125:5
    3. There are many people found on that way. Matt. 7:13
  3. End of the broad way:
    1. Leads to fall. - Prov. 28:18
    2. Eternal death. - Prov. 14:12
    3. It is beset with thorns and snares. - Prov. 22:5
    4. It ends in eternal damnation. - Matt. 7:13 Here is food for thought! Because we have but two ways to choose from, and the broad highway of this world is very appealing to the natural heart, yet, we know where it will lead to in the end.
C. THE NARROW WAY OF LIFE
  1. It has a very narrow entrance:
    1. All who enter here must leave all things of this world behind; they cannot enter with them - 1 Tim. 6:7
    2. Peter said to the Master, "We have left all and followed thee." - Mark 10:28
  2. It is so narrow that we can walk on it singly only!
  3. The restrictions are so great that but a very few choose to walk on it:
  4. But it is lighted:
    1. Prov. 4:18
    2. Ps. 119:105
  5. The end of this way of life:
    1. Leads to life everlasting - Mark 10:28-30
    2. It leads to eternal joy - Matt. 25:23
    3. It brings eternal rest and security - Heb. 4:1-11; 11:14-17
  6. An important lesson:
    1. We are free moral agents; we may choose a way of life - Deut. 30:19, 20
    2. Jacob and Esau made their choice of the way of life, and the result is fully described in the Bible.
    3. Judas and Peter chose two opposite roads to walk on, and here, too, the word of God tells us of the end results.
    4. The two thieves on the cross of Calvary made their final choice to end their mortal lives, and here again, we have the end results.
  7. Let us be honest with the Lord and with ourselves:
    1. If death should overtake us today, on what road would eternity find us?
    2. The answer is simple, our daily life will have the answer, and what is it?
    3. The burden of the message is to call attention to the seriousness of life, and to assist any honest soul to enter the strait gate that leads to eternal life.


Design © John Bryant 2011