Your direction in life determines where you will end up. No matter if you chose the course or someone else chooses it for you. You are where you are in your life today because of a specific road, direction, or route you took to get there. In life every decision or non-decision you make is a road. Whether you say yes, or you say no, you are taking a road to a specific place. Since this is the case for every human being on the planet -- why not choose the right road? The Jesus road!
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus speaks about two ways or directions people take in life. A way that leads to destruction and a way that leads to life. Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (New International Version, Matthew. 7.13-14). Jesus is informing you that there are two roads in life and one of the roads is not where you should go, even though most people choose it. This is the road that is full of empty promises, glitz-and-glamour, confusion, drunkeness, lies, heartache, sickness, anger, theft, distrust, ill-intentions, and so much more. It is the broad road. The road that seems fun and right, but is totally contrary to it. It's what you see on TV everyday -- gossip and strife. The actions you see many doing on social media, showing off, stalking, fabricating, and degrading others. It's the road that steals your time and joy. The road that Jesus describes as broad is the road that is designed to take from you and leave you destitute in a system that you think is either fun, normal, or both. This way -- the broad road -- wants to take all you have. When Jesus speaks about the wide gate, he is speaking about the ways of the world. But, Jesus overcame the world so you do not have to live in bondage anymore on the broad road.
In John 16:33 Jesus speaks and says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (New International Version, John. 16.33). Jesus is explaining to you that in him there is peace. He is describing what His road is like. He is telling anyone who has an ear to hear to come with him and your life will be filled with peace and change forever. In contrast, Jesus shares in Matthew 7:13 that the other road -- the broad road -- leads to destruction. He is painting a picture and laying out the options to life and what comes with these choices. Jesus does not want you to struggle. He wants you to have joy and peace. You can only gain the joy and peace Jesus speaks of through the small gate. Where it leads to life.
There are two distinct descriptions of these roads or gates -- small and wide. The way of the world is described as wide because --- wide, in this manner -- represents a place where the majority of people are and the road most people take. It represents the large swings that are a part of your life when being on the road. There are essentially no rules on the wide road, but the punishments are severe -- and it leads to destruction, like Jesus explains in Matthew 7:13. The stress and confusion people experience in their daily lives is because they are on the broad road. It is very hard to exit this road because there are many devices and individuals that are working to keep you in a state of believing that the road is going to deliver a life of promise and fulfillment, but it never does.
The world thinks that the fun is on the side they are on, which is the wide road. That is not where the fun is. The real fun is through the small gate. The side that Jesus speaks of. His road. When you walk the road with Jesus he cleans you up and leads you along the still waters. When you enter through the narrow gate, you become free from bondage of the world. This is where life tastes better. The breeze feels cooler on your skin. Joy and peace abound through the narrow gate. Trauma and borken-hearts are not on the road of Jesus. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (New International version, John. 11.28). This is such a genuine and loving gesture from the Lord. It shows you how much he loves you and how He wants to set you free from the broad road that brings weariness and heavy burdens. There is no rest through the wide gate. It is a way of constant running and moving, weariness and burdens. What keeps you in peace and protection on the road with Jesus is your commitment to Him -- seeking the kingdom first in all you do. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (King James version, Matthew. 6.33). All of the things that come with Jesus' road cannot be added unto you, unless you seek first the kingdom of God. Jesus works with exchanges. The exchange only works with a move from you first. "Come to me," Jesus says.. "and I will give you rest." Your rest is predicated on your coming to Jesus. Your rest is not on the broad road in any capacity. You make the first move, and Jesus makes the second -- giving you rest. Walking the road with Jesus means, reading and studying your bible everyday, praying in the morning and at night, and believing what the Bible says and doing what it says to do with all your heart. The road with Jesus doesn't work with many people because they do not have the commitment to Jesus' road to receive all of the things Jesus has for them. It is not easy, but the rewards are tremendous. You must be finished with the world to truly be able to get strong on the road with Jesus Christ. It is more than worth it.
Jesus did not say the road would not have temptations and challenges. He says that He will give you a way to escape them. "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (New International Version, 1 Corinthians. 10.13). It is awesome that Jesus even offers a way to escape on His road. This is another wonderful thing about Jesus. And plenty more wonderful things are on His road as well.
There are rules and commitments to the road with Jesus, that is why the gate is narrow, but the rewards are remarkable. When you have a hard time, call unto Jesus. He is the answer to everything you need in your life. He is a lamp to your feet. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the narrow road.
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus speaks about two ways or directions people take in life. A way that leads to destruction and a way that leads to life. Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (New International Version, Matthew. 7.13-14). Jesus is informing you that there are two roads in life and one of the roads is not where you should go, even though most people choose it. This is the road that is full of empty promises, glitz-and-glamour, confusion, drunkeness, lies, heartache, sickness, anger, theft, distrust, ill-intentions, and so much more. It is the broad road. The road that seems fun and right, but is totally contrary to it. It's what you see on TV everyday -- gossip and strife. The actions you see many doing on social media, showing off, stalking, fabricating, and degrading others. It's the road that steals your time and joy. The road that Jesus describes as broad is the road that is designed to take from you and leave you destitute in a system that you think is either fun, normal, or both. This way -- the broad road -- wants to take all you have. When Jesus speaks about the wide gate, he is speaking about the ways of the world. But, Jesus overcame the world so you do not have to live in bondage anymore on the broad road.
In John 16:33 Jesus speaks and says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (New International Version, John. 16.33). Jesus is explaining to you that in him there is peace. He is describing what His road is like. He is telling anyone who has an ear to hear to come with him and your life will be filled with peace and change forever. In contrast, Jesus shares in Matthew 7:13 that the other road -- the broad road -- leads to destruction. He is painting a picture and laying out the options to life and what comes with these choices. Jesus does not want you to struggle. He wants you to have joy and peace. You can only gain the joy and peace Jesus speaks of through the small gate. Where it leads to life.
There are two distinct descriptions of these roads or gates -- small and wide. The way of the world is described as wide because --- wide, in this manner -- represents a place where the majority of people are and the road most people take. It represents the large swings that are a part of your life when being on the road. There are essentially no rules on the wide road, but the punishments are severe -- and it leads to destruction, like Jesus explains in Matthew 7:13. The stress and confusion people experience in their daily lives is because they are on the broad road. It is very hard to exit this road because there are many devices and individuals that are working to keep you in a state of believing that the road is going to deliver a life of promise and fulfillment, but it never does.
The world thinks that the fun is on the side they are on, which is the wide road. That is not where the fun is. The real fun is through the small gate. The side that Jesus speaks of. His road. When you walk the road with Jesus he cleans you up and leads you along the still waters. When you enter through the narrow gate, you become free from bondage of the world. This is where life tastes better. The breeze feels cooler on your skin. Joy and peace abound through the narrow gate. Trauma and borken-hearts are not on the road of Jesus. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (New International version, John. 11.28). This is such a genuine and loving gesture from the Lord. It shows you how much he loves you and how He wants to set you free from the broad road that brings weariness and heavy burdens. There is no rest through the wide gate. It is a way of constant running and moving, weariness and burdens. What keeps you in peace and protection on the road with Jesus is your commitment to Him -- seeking the kingdom first in all you do. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (King James version, Matthew. 6.33). All of the things that come with Jesus' road cannot be added unto you, unless you seek first the kingdom of God. Jesus works with exchanges. The exchange only works with a move from you first. "Come to me," Jesus says.. "and I will give you rest." Your rest is predicated on your coming to Jesus. Your rest is not on the broad road in any capacity. You make the first move, and Jesus makes the second -- giving you rest. Walking the road with Jesus means, reading and studying your bible everyday, praying in the morning and at night, and believing what the Bible says and doing what it says to do with all your heart. The road with Jesus doesn't work with many people because they do not have the commitment to Jesus' road to receive all of the things Jesus has for them. It is not easy, but the rewards are tremendous. You must be finished with the world to truly be able to get strong on the road with Jesus Christ. It is more than worth it.
Jesus did not say the road would not have temptations and challenges. He says that He will give you a way to escape them. "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (New International Version, 1 Corinthians. 10.13). It is awesome that Jesus even offers a way to escape on His road. This is another wonderful thing about Jesus. And plenty more wonderful things are on His road as well.
There are rules and commitments to the road with Jesus, that is why the gate is narrow, but the rewards are remarkable. When you have a hard time, call unto Jesus. He is the answer to everything you need in your life. He is a lamp to your feet. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the narrow road.
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