Reasons Few Will Enter The Narrow
Way
Ever wonder why so few become Christians even when they are aware of the consequences?
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad
that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate
is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find
it”.
Introduction
Jesus said there would be few who find the narrow way.
While we understand that only those who diligently seek the way and take the
necessary steps to be on the straight and narrow will be saved--
Many will choose not to seek this way.
Let’s look at some reasons that people give as excuses, but they are really
nothing more than poor choices.
If God desires all men to be saved, why will there only be a few who actually
are?
Man has only two roads to choose from,
One is narrow and the other is broad.
One leads to life—
The other to destruction.
One will be difficult—
The other easy.
I Cannot Understand
Why would God tell us to do something without telling us how to do it?
Why say enter and make it so that a man could not know how to enter?
Such would be a reflection on the mercy and goodness of God.
All can come.
Ephesians 5:17 “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will
of the Lord is”.
John 7:17 “If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the
teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself”.
Isaiah 35:8 “And a highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called
the highway of holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for
him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it”.
John 8:32 “and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free”.
There is not one thing that directs man into the narrow way, that man cannot
understand if he tries.
It’s Impossible To Enter
Really?
God wills that none should perish.
2 Peter 3:9 “The LORD is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish bot for all to come
to repentance”.
Why would God exhort us to enter if it was impossible?
It may be impossible for man to enter on his own, but God provides the way.
Whosoever will may enter the narrow way.
Mt. 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy
and My load is light”.
Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’
and let the one who hears say ‘Come’ and let the one who is thirsty
come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost”.
The gospel is the power of God to save.
Romans 1:16. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power
of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to
the Greek”.
If this be true, why preach the gospel to people if it is impossible to accept
and obey it?
Matthew 28:18-20;
Mark 16:15,16.
You Never Mentioned Him To Me
Some may not enter because they were not taught.
We are to preach the word.
2 Timothy 4:1,2 “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ
Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His
kingdom; preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort, with great patience and instruction”.
Mk. 16:15,16.
We must plant and cultivate, God will give the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:6 “I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing
the growth”.
We are to be to the world what Ezekiel was to Israel, a watchman.
Ezekiel 3:16-21.
We are debtors. Romans 1:14 “I am under obligation both to Greeks and
to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish”..
Let it never be said, "You never mentioned Him to me."
Acts 8:4 “Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching
the word”.
I Can’t Let Go Of The World
They want to walk the narrow way, they say, but they do not want to give up
the things of the world.
Such as: dancing, drinking, gambling, cursing, immodest dress, lying, sexual
sins’ etc.
The gate is too narrow to enter in with this type of load.
Such a load must be left outside.
It is said that when the Bible talks about a camel going through the eye of
a needle, Mt. 19:23,24, it has reference to camels with large loads having to
kneel down and their goods unloaded before they could enter certain gates of
certain cities.
In order to rid ourselves of the world we must first deny ourselves.
Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come
after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me”.
Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve tow masters; for either he will hate
the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon”.
Except you repent, leave your sins, turn your back upon them, you will perish.
Luke 13:3. “I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you shall all likewise
perish.”
I’ll Trust My Preacher
2 Peter 2:1-3 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as
there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive
heresies, even denying the master who brought them, bringing swift destruction
upon themselves. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them
the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit
you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction
is not asleep”..
Many preachers preach error.
The Pope of Rome, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, Ellen G. White,
Billy Graham, Jim Jones, etc.
We are to go to the law and to the testimony.
Isaiah 8:19-20 “And when they say to you, ‘consult the mediums and
the spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult their God?
Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the
testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have
no dawn”.
The Bereans were commended for going to God’s word.
Acts 17:11 “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,
for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily,
to see whether these things were so”.
We are to study for ourselves.
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman
who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth”.
I Can Wait
Meant to enter, but wait for a more opportune time.
Acts 24:25 “And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the
judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, ‘go away for the present,
and when I find time, I will summon you’” .
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 “for He says, at the acceptable time I listened to you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you; behold now is the acceptable time,
behold now is the day of salvation”.
Some keep saying: "I'm gonna, I'm a gonna" until they can only say:
"I'm a goner".
Conclusion
Jesus is the way, open to all men alike.
All must do the same things to enter the way.
What hinders you from entering the narrow way today?
Have you entered the way but have fallen by the wayside?
If so, why not return today?
By Carey Scott
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