Choose the Difficult Narrow Choose the Difficult Narrow Road over the Easy Wide Road over the Easy Wide

RoadRoadPARADOXPARADOX Series [6] Series [6]

Matthew 7:13-14Matthew 7:13-14

PARADOX: JESUS’ COUNTER-INTUITIVE TEACHINGS

Paradox is truth standing on its head and waving its legs to get our attention.

G. K. Chesterton

• Paradox #1: “To find your life, you must lose it.”

• Paradox #2: “The way up is down.”

• Paradox #3: “To meet your needs, don’t seek them first.”

• Paradox #4: “The last will be first and the first will be last.”

• Paradox #5: “The secret is in secrecy.”

• Paradox #6: “Choose the difficult narrow road over the easy

wide road.” [TODAY]

BETWEEN THE TWO ROADS

13 "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. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

•Jesus presents only two roads. The choice is between the two [= there is no 3rd

alternative]. The choice is absolute [= one is true; the other is

true]. The choice is unpalatable [= especially to postmodern

people to whom everything is relative].

•Both roads promise a good final destination. No road sign says: “This Way to Destruction” Both road signs say: “This Way to Life!”

BETWEEN THE TWO ROADS

THIS WAY THIS WAY TO LIFE TO LIFE [Wide Road] [Narrow

Road]

BETWEEN THE TWO ROADS

THIS WAY THIS WAY

TO LIFE TO LIFE

[Wide Road] [Narrow Road]

BETWEEN THE TWO ROADS

13 "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. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

•The two roads have contrasting elements. Two gates: wide vs. narrow Two roads: easy vs. hard/difficult Two destinations: destruction vs. life Two crowds: many vs. few

•Jesus calls everyone to make the choice. Why? Jesus himself Is the fork in the road to eternity. Jesus urges us to choose it—otherwise, no choice

becomes a choice to enter through the wide gate.

It is hardly necessary to comment that such talk is extremely unfashionable today.

People like to be uncommitted. Every opinion poll allows not only for a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer,

but for a convenient ‘don’t know’. Men are lovers of Aristotle and of his golden mean. The

most popular path is via media. To deviate from the middle

way is to risk being dubbed an ‘extremist’ or

‘fanatic’. Everybody resents being faced with the

necessity of a choice. But Jesus will not allow us to escape

it.John R. W. Stott

THE WIDE ROAD VS. THE NARROW ROAD

The Wide Road The Narrow Road

• Its gate is small and obscure.

• It is hard/difficult.

• Only a few find it. [You must enter it alone.]

• But it leads to LIFE.

• Its gate is spacious and attractive.

• It is easy.

• It is popular—many find it. [You can enter with a crowd.]

• But it leads to DESTRUCTION.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CHOOSE THE DIFFICULT NARROW ROAD?

• It does NOT mean: 13 "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. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (vs.13-14)

That difficulty or unpopularity itself is the virtue in itself.

That choosing the difficult narrow road merits us the eternal life.

To be narrow-minded in considering truths in all issues.

To be “anti-cultural” (as opposed to “counter-cultural”) without a sensitive, humble, compassionate heart.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CHOOSE THE DIFFICULT NARROW ROAD?

• It MEANS: 13 "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. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (vs.13-14)

That we choose the restricted way that God’s revelation through Scripture concerning what is right and good [the way of salvation].

That we submit to God’s way [= self-denial/faith in Christ] rather than man’s way [= what seems right in our eyes].

To choose the way of Jesus as our way as Christ-followers.

To put our trust in Jesus as our only Savior who leads us to eternal life in God’s kingdom.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CHOOSE THE DIFFICULT NARROW ROAD?

1) Be sure to enter THROUGH THE NARROW GATE—JESUS.

9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal

and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:9-10)

There is no other gate which leads to life. You can bring all of our sins and heavy

burden as you kneel at the cross of Jesus. Jesus Christ himself is the only gate

through which you can enter into life.

Father, make me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision.

Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn

one way or another on facing Christ in me.Jim Elliot

 

  

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CHOOSE THE DIFFICULT NARROW ROAD?

2) KEEP VIGILANT for the lure of the popular easy way of the culture!

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:2, MSG)

There is no other way to stay on the narrow road.

The lure sneaks upon us in a subtle illusive way. The key to vigilance is obedience through

devotion to daily Scripture-guidance and prayer.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CHOOSE THE DIFFICULT NARROW ROAD?

3) Remind yourself of THE BIG PICTURE of your journey on the narrow road.

17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient,

but the things that are unseen are eternal.(2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

There is no more important issue in life because it deals with our eternal destiny.

We must NOT lose heart in doing good. In so doing, we will be convinced of our

need for shifting from “self-centered” way to “Christ-centered” way.

True SpiritualityOne way to define spiritual life is getting so tired and fed up with yourself you go on to something better, which is following Jesus. But the minute we start advertising the faith in terms of benefits, we're just exacerbating the self problem. "With Christ, you're better, stronger, more likeable, you enjoy some ecstasy." But it's just more self. Instead, we want to get people bored with themselves so they can start looking at Jesus. We've all met a certain type of spiritual person. She's a wonderful person. She loves the Lord. She prays and reads the Bible all the time. But all she thinks about is herself. She's not a selfish person. But she's always at the center of everything she's doing. "How can I witness better? How can I do this better? How can I take care of this person's problem better?" It's me, me, me disguised in a way that is difficult to see because her spiritual talk disarms us.

- Eugene Peterson

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONSFOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

1.  Have I made a clear choice between the two roads? How would I solidify my choice today?

2. What lures or misperception of the wide road must I realize so I can turn from it?

3. What first step can I take in choosing the narrow road this week?