Every person, at the end of their lives, spends eternity either in heaven or in hell. Each person, in their lifetime, has to choose a path that takes them to their final destination of eternal life or eternal death. There are two choices: one that has a narrow gate and the path is difficult which leads to eternal life, the other gate is broad and the path is easy and it leads to eternal destruction.

Everyone by default enters through the gate that is broad and the path that is easy. That’s because everyone is born in sin and iniquity. On this easy path, there are many gods and choices. You can worship anyone you like, believe any lies and do whatever you like.

narrowgateHowever, to enter the narrow gate and the path that is difficult, one has to make an intentional decision. This way is narrow because it has only one God. This way is difficult because you have to give up the broad and easy way and forsake everything the world has to offer. On this way, you believe in only one God, Jesus Christ, you believe only in the truth and you surrender completely to the will of God. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6 NIV).”

Here’s the dilemma, the broad gate and the easy path leads to eternal destruction. The narrow gate and the difficult path leads to eternal life. You have a choice to suffer now or suffer later. However, the little insignificant suffering now is far better than the suffering in hell. If you suffer now for doing what is right, you will be greatly rewarded. The suffering that comes from choosing hell is unending and unbearable.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world today. More than 2 billion people in the world call themselves followers of Jesus Christ. Based on these statistics you would expect the majority of people to go to heaven. Although it may seem so, it is not so.

There are very few that take the narrow gate and the difficult path and find eternal life. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV).”

Many Christians, believe and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, but instead of taking the narrow path, they take the easy path that leads to destruction. Some live a life of hypocrisy, while others live in deception, following their own definitions and ways to salvation.

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. There is no other way except through Jesus, there is no other truth and no other avenue to eternal life. There are false prophets and teachers that teach their own doctrines of salvation and entice people to take the path that leads to destruction.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 7:21 NIV).” Are you doing the will of God in your life? Only the one who does God’s will, will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:22-23). A person has to be greatly anointed to prophesy, drive out demons and perform miracles.

Believers that do great work in God’s name but bear no fruits are considered evildoers and hypocrites in the eyes of God. A person performs miracles, drives out demons and prophesies because they are gifted by God. We have a tendency to look at people’s gifts and conclude that they are saved believers, but God recognises us by the fruits we bear and not by the gifts we possesses because gifts are given to us, but fruits are cultivated and grown with the help of the Holy Spirit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 7:19 NIV).

There are others Christians that are on their way to eternal destruction, because they see-saw between the two paths. These paths are in opposition to each other. You cannot walk on both the paths at the same time and remain saved.

Some want to enter eternal life, but they are indecisive and are unable to forsake the lure of the broad gate, such as money, fame and worldliness. Jesus warns such Christians by telling them, No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24 NIV).

A wise person is the one that chooses his destination and then chooses the right path that takes him to that destination. A fool would be someone that chooses the wrong path and wonders where he is going to end up. A fool is also a person that may choose the right destination, but takes the wrong path or he may take the right path and walk in it for a while, but then give up and go to the wrong path. But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13 NIV).

Please be careful and don’t be fooled, there are very few that make it to heaven. God died for each one of us, it is God’s will that everyone be saved. However, we have to choose Him and do His will and follow Him into the narrow gate and the difficult path.

There may be some of you that are walking down the easy way that will lead you into a dark abyss, where the fire never goes off and the suffering never ends. Would you forsake that path, carry your cross and follow Jesus? “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts (Hebrew 3:15 NIV).

For those few of you that are travelling on the difficult path, would you care to tell those walking in darkness, unaware of the punishment that awaits them, that there is a way that leads to life? They may not listen to you, laugh at you or even persecute you. Would you still let them know that Jesus is the Way, He is the only Truth and He is the only Life?

You may not be able to bring multitudes onto the path of life. There could be a few who you could reach out to. Even if there was just one person that you could lead to the path of righteousness, it would be better than none. There may be someone you can pray for today, someone that you can share the gospel with. Someone that may never have a second chance. Someone that may never be here tomorrow. Someone only you can reach. Would you care to share the gospel?

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