The Choice In life we are faced with the choice of two ways. A choice between God’s way and the world’s way, between ‘the way of life and the way of death.’ It is the teaching of Jesus that makes us aware of such a choice and it is the truth of His Cross that brings us to the point of decision. Through the message of the Cross we learn God’s way of salvation or man’s way of rejection. We will follow the one way or the other. The Lord Jesus illustrated the two different ways by employing the imagery of gated entrances and the ways unto which they opened. A wide gate unto a busy thoroughfare would have been typical in ancient walled cities or towns as well as a narrow gate opening unto a narrow side street or to some less travelled pathway. The point He makes is that in life we are like travellers on a chosen way which is leading us to an ultimate destination. Where we walk and with whom we walk is based upon the choice we have made. The natural choice is the appealing and accommodative broad way. It is easy to access and immensely popular. The spiritual choice is the narrow gate of repentance and the way of the life of faith. Thankfully, regarding those on the broad way, in God’s mercy many of its travellers are often confronted with the call to choose the narrow way of life and the purpose of this article is to do just that. The Ways When on a visit to a large city like London or Dublin you quickly become aware of the usefulness of street and road names as well destination signposts. These along with a map enable you to know where you are and to where you are going. The Lord not only names the two ways he talks about according to their character, He also tells us to where they lead. The broad way is leading unto destruction. The narrow way to life. These ways go in completely opposite directions and end in completely different outcomes. The broad road will end in destruction for all its travellers. The narrow way will end in life for all who choose it. The Outcome The fullness of eternal life or the darkness of eternal judgment lie before us at the end of our journey here. Destruction means the loss of everything including my soul. It indicates that life on the broad way in the end has no value or worth with God. Any gain, success or pleasure experienced on it are temporary and belong to time only. In contrast, the fullness of eternal life awaits the one who has truly followed the Lord Jesus. Those who have known the power of His Cross and in response have taken up ‘their cross’ and lived for Him will enter the joy of His presence. The broad way begins with a wide gate, but in the end it narrows down to one tragic outcome for all its travellers while the narrow way beginning with a narrow gate ultimately widens out to the glorious unlimited dimensions of life. Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice. What you decide in this life will determine where you will be forever. If I reject Christ now, in the end He will ultimately reject me. Today, God calls for repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus who said of Himself: “I am the way I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” – John 14 v 6. He truly is the only way to God and life. AJC
