In the Bible, there are three alarming verses that should prompt every believer to heed Paul’s advice in 2 Corinthians 13:5-7, urging us to examine our faith.
We looked at the first two in my part one series, and today we are going to look at the third, which is just as alarming as the first two.
It is found in Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
While the message is clear, many churchgoers often overlook its profound implications. The reason is simple: most people, when reading the Bible, treat it as a checklist. They read their Bible or daily devotion for the satisfaction of achieving something that feels Godly. However, we must recognize the difference between reading the Bible, as we just did, and studying the Bible.
Reading the Bible should not be a mere act of gathering information that may be useful later when sitting with other Christians or hoping to contribute when particular topics come up. When we study the Bible, we must learn to pause and strive to understand what the scriptures are saying, contemplating their teachings. We should ask ourselves questions like, “Am I lacking in this area? How do I apply this to my life?” When we read the Bible, our focus should be on transformation, not just information.
I’m sure many of you have read this verse before and never bothered to stop and consider its implications. Today, let us go beyond the surface and delve into the deeper meaning of what Jesus is saying here.
Let us go through this verse again, but this time let us study it.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Jesus is unequivocally stating that the majority of people will end up on the path to destruction, with only a few discovering the way to eternal life. When we contemplate what Jesus is conveying, the contrast becomes stark—the road to hell is very wide, while the road to heaven is very narrow. To put it in perspective, let’s attempt to quantify it with a percentage. Jesus said that one road is very wide, and the other is very narrow. What would you say the percentage of the narrow gate is compared to the wide gate? Ten percent? And, if we are going to be honest, that is being very conservative, I believe is more in the range of five percent. It is a sobering thought that should prompt us to examine ourselves.
Most people, however, read this verse without pausing to consider its gravity. They continue to read the verses that follow, perhaps interpreting them as if the road to heaven is about 40 percent—and the road to hell is 60 percent that still accommodating a significant number of people. It is essential to engage with these words at a deeper level, challenging ourselves to truly understand the gravity of the choices presented to us.
I want to share a personal story of how this verse changed my life forever. It was these two verses that cause me to examine myself. I was in my early thirties sitting in church when the pastor read these verses. Now I had already been going to church for about 6 or seven years, and I was proud of myself because none of my single friends went to church. I would dress nice and I even invested in a bible so I can look the look.
As soon as Pastor concluded reading these words, an image flashed in my mind: a bustling eight-lane highway during rush hour with an off-ramp where cars were exiting the highway. It dawned on me that the eight lanes represented the wide road, the path to destruction, while the off-ramp symbolized the narrow road, the path to heaven. Contemplating this mental picture, a crucial question confronted me: What makes you believe you are on that off-ramp, the narrow road, simply because you attend church?
I began considering various people whom I deemed to be on the narrow road. My pastor, my trusted spiritual guide, undeniably belonged there as he exemplified a godly life distinct from most men I knew. Great pastors came to mind, then I remembered a couple in the church that were both doctors. They felt called by God and they both quite their jobs to go to some remote place in the world, I do not remember where, to be missionaries and help people with their profession. I thought about other courageous missionaries who selflessly risked their lives to spread the Gospel in dangerous places. They, too, must be on that off-ramp.
Yet amid these reflections, I could not escape the nagging question “What makes you think you are on that off-ramp? Is it merely because you attend church and bible study classes, possess a nice Bible, and dress well?” If that was the case, Jesus would have not referred it as a narrow road where only a few find it. At that moment, a profound realization gripped me—I understood that being in right standing with God required more than mere church attendance and outward goodness. For years, the world had fed me the notion that as long as I lived what I thought to be a morally upright life and refrained from harming others, I was deemed acceptable to God.
Sadly, the reality in many churches is that believers often mirror the world in their lifestyles, raising critical questions about genuine discipleship. This verse should prompt serious introspection—Are we authentically following Jesus, or merely drifting with the cultural currents? The gravity of Jesus’ words, “only a few will find it,” should instill a sense of holy fear.
Rather than delving into the depth of this warning, some cling to a simpler message of salvation, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.” However, the challenge lies in understanding that genuine belief necessitates transformative action, extending beyond mere church attendance. It involves aligning our lives with Jesus’ teachings, a commitment reflected in our daily interactions. It should prompt us to understand that being on the narrow road to make Jesus Lord of our lives, where he becomes the axes on which our life turns. The narrowness of the road emphasizes the distinctive nature of true discipleship, demanding a radical adherence to Jesus’ way of life. Otherwise, like I said before, the road would not be so narrow.