Reverend T.C. Edwards: One Choice, Two Gates, Two Roads, Two Destinations

One Choice, Two Gates, Two Roads, Two Destinations 

Matthew 7:13-14

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (KJV)

13 “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.(NIV)

 
There is one fact about life that no one can dispute: Life is full of choices.  Each and everyday we are confronted with choices.  Just this morning we had to make many choices:

• What time to get up?
• Do we go to church today?
• What do the kids need to wear?
• Which route will we take to church?
• Which car will we drive?
• What will we eat for breakfast? 

Those are just some of the few choices that were made just this morning.  We will make more choices throughout today.  As long as we live, we will always make choices.

However, there is one choice that we all must make and it is the most important choice of our lives.

• It’s not the choice of who we will marry.
• It’s not the choice of where we will go to school.
• It’s not the choice of whether we will have children or not.
• It’s not the choice of what neighborhood we will live in.

No, the most important choice we make will come at a point in our lives where we are standing at the crossroads of life. We will be standing at the crossroads with only one choice, two gates, two roads and two destinations. 

What we must understand is that:

One gate, one road, one destination points to Jesus Christ and eternal life with Him, while the other gate, road and destination points toward a path of destruction.  Each us will have to make our own choice.

Wide Gate

The wide gate is the gate that many will choose according to Christ.  This gate is chosen be many because the entrance is easy and inviting.  This gate attracts many because the gate is wide and they are able to take anything they want with them on the journey once they enter in through this gate.  Through this gate, they can take:

• Lying
• Stealing
• Cheating
• Fornication
• Shacking
• Adultery
• And any sin one can think of with them.

This gate is so appealing because you can keep your old baggage with you.  On this journey called life many folks want to take as much baggage with them as they can, the wide gates allows for that.  The wide gate allows you to do anything, be anything and chase anything in this world.   Jesus says in Matthew 7:13c many enter through it.

When you enter through the wide gate it places you on a wide road.  This road is the most traveled road. This road is a dangerous road. Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 7:13b broad is the road that leads to destruction.  You must be careful in life because once you get on this road you might find yourself:

• Walking down Pride Avenue
• Living in Sexual Sin Estates
• Hate Street
• Substance Abuse Circle
• Materialism Freeway
• Murder Boulevard

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. 

I must warn also warn you that this wide road is the path that most of the people will encourage you to walk down.  You must not be swayed by what the majority see, you must be swayed by what God sees. 

The Wide Gate, Wide Road ends in eternal damnation.  The destination is HELL.  You need to remember that but don’t be led to that because there is another gate, another road and another destination. 

NARROW GATE

This gate is a restricted gate.  This gate is difficult to enter when you still carry the old baggage of the world with you.  Access to this gate is open to everyone and is given through John 3:16.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.     -KJV 

Access is not denied to people, they keep themselves out when they fail to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Too many folks think and believe that they can enter the narrow gate anyway they want to.  Jesus said in John 14:6

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.   –NIV

When you enter through the narrow gate, you will find yourself on a narrow road. 

This narrow road leads to eternal life with God the Father. 

On this narrow road:

There will be some ups and downs, but Jesus promised Lo I’m with you until the end of the world. 

You may have to cry sometimes, but God’s word says weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning. 

You are never alone, I like what the hymn writer said: He walks with me, He talks with me and tells me I am His own.

But there is an end to this narrow road, the destination of this road is a place called heaven.

John in the Book of Revelation describes the destination this way: 

Revelation 21:1-4

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”    -NIV 

We all have one choice to make, two gates, two roads and two destinations.  Since the beginning of time, man has always had to make a choice: