THE NARROW PATH IS AFFLICTED and their are few who find it. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV
I always get concerned when the Bible uses the word “few”, as in their were “few” souls saved through the flood. That would be eight. Eight souls were the few. So, when Jesus tells us that the way that leads to eternal life is “narrow”, He was not proclaiming at this time that He was the only way to the Father; (which is true, for there is no other name by which we must be saved) but that the path He lays out for us is afflicted and difficult.
The word “narrow” here literally means “afflicted and filled with pressures”. It is difficult. It is the path filled with hardship, persecution, and affliction. People don’t want this narrow path- they want the easy, and broad path of least resistance. People want to do what they want to do. I’ve been in ministry for over 18 years now and I can tell you that it’s the “few” who find the path of life. It’s the ones who give up everything to follow Him, not like the rich young ruler who couldn’t give up everything. It’s the ones who refuse to look back, unlike Lot’s wife who loved the ways of Sodom.
The narrow path is for the humble and contrite soul, the one who takes instruction and correction and is submitted to their pastor and leaders, not forsaking the gathering but preferring the brethren, always in the Word of God; not the rebellious and lawless ones who refuse to leave their life of sin or their own disobedient ways. “A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;” Proverbs 6:12
In studying this verse in the Hebrew, it translates as “a naughty person” or more literally, “a son of Belial” which is derived from two words meaning “without yoke”, strictly signifying a lawless person. A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull. The animals are forced to be linked together. It is interesting that Jesus says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Therefore, if you are not yoked (fastened to the Lord and going His narrow path), you are without yoke. You are a lawless person. I see this all the time, people want to inherit heaven, the blessings and goodness of the Lord; but they refuse to be yoked to Him. They want to stay on the broad and easy path. Oh they say, “I believe!” But their life proves they are without yoke. They refuse to come out of the world. They do what the world does, live like the world, and take instruction from the world. They love their sin more than they love the Lord. They love the world’s ways more than God’s ways. They are full of pride instead of humility. They cling to the world instead of clinging to Jesus.
I see so much sexual immorality, partying, drunkenness, rebellion and disobedience in the church and people refuse to repent, but rather call their sin “good”. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”I Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV“For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.”Ephesians 5:5-7 NKJVWhat is going on is a judgment on God’s people. He is separating the wheat from the chaff and “the sheep from the sheep”. Many have been playing around with the Lord, calling their sin as grace and living a life of disobedience and iniquity without yoke. Many are lukewarm and comfortable in their apathy. Most are under a spirit of deception having created their own hippy, marching, social justice Jesus and these call evil good and call good evil.
Greater persecution and affliction is coming. Make a decision. You are either in or out. You cannot sit on the fence anymore. You cannot partake of the Lord and the world. This is your Elijah moment. “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”I Kings 18:21 NKJVWhat will you answer?#runyourrace
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