Jesus 101: The Country Road and the Interstate


We make lots of choices in our lives.  Some small.  Like whether to have chocolate or vanilla.  Some big.  Like whom we will marry!

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus spoke about our biggest choice of all.  He told his hearers that they were at a fork in the road.  On one side was a wide gate and a broad road.  It was the one most people took.  On the other was a small gate and a narrow road.  It was the way few people chose.

Jesus said that though the gate was wide and road was broad, they led to destruction.  The small gate and narrow road led to life!

The wide gate and broad road represented the natural road of the world and its values.  It was the easiest and most obvious way.  That's why most people took it.

The small gate and narrow road represented the way of following Christ.  The smallness of the gate and narrowness of the road represent the challenge and difficulty of following Christ.  Jesus said we have to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him.  That's a big ask!

All we have to do to go through the wide gate is go with the flow!

But then the wide gate leads to destruction and the narrow gate leads to life.

The narrow road suggests that following Christ is a journey.  We go through the gate when we put our faith in him.  But we begin a journey of growth and trust in him.  

We have a choice between two options.  One is easy and leads to death.  The other is difficult and leads to life.

Go through the narrow gate and find the best life you can have in this life, and eternal life in the age to come!

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