The Narrow Road: Painful but Temporary
“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. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” Mathew 7: 13, 14.
This passage teaches the golden rule as a summary of God’s moral law and contrasts two distinct paths in life. To read the passage for a little context, click here.
The broad path may be wide and spacious and easy, but the destination of that path, the final outcome is death and misery.
In the same way, the narrow path is the path of suffering tribulation, affliction and trouble. But the destination, or final outcome is glorious.
The Narrow Road Leads Somewhere
The big idea is whether you choose the narrow path or the broad one, you don’t remain on it forever, because it is a PATH. And a path always leads somewhere. You eventually get to your destination or your resting place.
The reason the joy of the wicked is short-lived is because they only have it as long as they are traveling down the path-which is the broad one. But once they reach their destination, which is destruction, they are miserable.
Similarly, the righteous have a hard time of it on their narrow path. They have to wait for their blessings. But once they reach their destination, they get to DWELL in life- both abundant and eternal.
The broad path of wickedness is the easy one, the pleasant one. The one where you don’t have to wait but get immediate gratification.
But, keep in mind, it’s only the PATH, and sooner or later, you will reach your destination.
The Narrow Road of Restraint
The narrow path is the hard one. The one that is contrary to human nature. And requires self-restraint, self-control, and self-denial. But here again, it’s only the path that is thus. Sooner or later, you will reach your destination.
This explains why the wicked don’t have to wait for what they want. But their joy is short-lived. And why the righteous do have to wait, and exercise faith and patience (Hebrews 6:12). But once their joy comes, it will be lasting.
It will not be path joy, but destination joy. It won’t be journey happiness, but resting place happiness.
The Happy Path or the Happy Destination?
If I had to choose between being blessed on the way home from work, or being blessed once I get home, I would certainly choose the latter. I spend maybe a half hour getting home from work and six hours at home, and that’s not even counting sleep.
It seems like a no-brainer, but because by nature, we want immediate gratification, and don’t want to wait, or go through anything uncomfortable, we often choose the happy path rather than the happy destination.
The narrow path requires delayed gratification and present discomfort. Whereas the broad path offers immediate gratification and present pleasure.
To read another post related to The Narrow Road: Painful but Temporary, see What Is Manna? And Why Does It Matter?