“Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I will give You thanks, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:19-24
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 The Lord is the only gateway to heaven and yet many seek their own path to heaven because they refuse to surrender their lives in this world to follow Jesus. Some think they can get to heaven based on how good they live their lives here in this world. Others believe that just because Jesus gave His life to set mankind free that everyone will go to heaven regardless. Still others believe that Christian religious practices will save them from being eternally separated from God. However, no church, denomination, sinner’s prayer, religion, etc. will save anyone from the gates of hell. They all lead their followers on the broad path that, in the end, leads to destruction.
Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:24 This is why Jesus told us, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
Undoubtedly, the greatest deception that leads MANY away from the narrow path is today’s local church system found all throughout the world. These so called churches are filled with MANY who profess to know Christ, calling themselves Christians, and yet they follow the many false teaching and practices that have been well established over time. Each one of these separate congregations claim to have the truth, yet without ever realizing that they do not have a personal relationship with Jesus! These religious minded people continue to meet in ritualistic fashion each week practicing a life of religion that seems so right! It feels like it must be the truth. However, they fail to see the truth because they are following spiritually blind leaders. The blind leading the blind. Jesus said, “Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew 15:14
The scriptures tell us plainly, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 16:25 Religious minded people have always believed they are holders of the truth, and it is no different in today’s local church system. Jesus warned the religious minded people back then, and the same holds true today. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.” Matthew 23:13
There is only one way to heaven, and that is not found in some church building or in the many manmade teachings and practices they follow. True righteousness only comes through following Christ and Christ alone. We need to realize that we are not capable of any righteousness outside of Christ. Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 We can only find the truth in Christ, and this can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit. Knowing Christ is not becoming a modern day Christian, but instead it is totally selling out your life to Him here in this world from this day forward and turning your back on the ways of this world. You must become a humble servant and lose your life as you know it. Only then can He develop a personal relationship with you and use your life for His good purpose. Take this to heart, “And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness (following Jesus). The unclean will not travel it, only those who walk in that Way--and fools will not stray onto it.” Isaiah 35:8 Get on the narrow path, and once there, keep your eyes on Jesus so that you will not be misled from this path that leads to the narrow gate of heaven!
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 The Lord is the only gateway to heaven and yet many seek their own path to heaven because they refuse to surrender their lives in this world to follow Jesus. Some think they can get to heaven based on how good they live their lives here in this world. Others believe that just because Jesus gave His life to set mankind free that everyone will go to heaven regardless. Still others believe that Christian religious practices will save them from being eternally separated from God. However, no church, denomination, sinner’s prayer, religion, etc. will save anyone from the gates of hell. They all lead their followers on the broad path that, in the end, leads to destruction.
Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:24 This is why Jesus told us, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
Undoubtedly, the greatest deception that leads MANY away from the narrow path is today’s local church system found all throughout the world. These so called churches are filled with MANY who profess to know Christ, calling themselves Christians, and yet they follow the many false teaching and practices that have been well established over time. Each one of these separate congregations claim to have the truth, yet without ever realizing that they do not have a personal relationship with Jesus! These religious minded people continue to meet in ritualistic fashion each week practicing a life of religion that seems so right! It feels like it must be the truth. However, they fail to see the truth because they are following spiritually blind leaders. The blind leading the blind. Jesus said, “Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew 15:14
The scriptures tell us plainly, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 16:25 Religious minded people have always believed they are holders of the truth, and it is no different in today’s local church system. Jesus warned the religious minded people back then, and the same holds true today. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.” Matthew 23:13
There is only one way to heaven, and that is not found in some church building or in the many manmade teachings and practices they follow. True righteousness only comes through following Christ and Christ alone. We need to realize that we are not capable of any righteousness outside of Christ. Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 We can only find the truth in Christ, and this can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit. Knowing Christ is not becoming a modern day Christian, but instead it is totally selling out your life to Him here in this world from this day forward and turning your back on the ways of this world. You must become a humble servant and lose your life as you know it. Only then can He develop a personal relationship with you and use your life for His good purpose. Take this to heart, “And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness (following Jesus). The unclean will not travel it, only those who walk in that Way--and fools will not stray onto it.” Isaiah 35:8 Get on the narrow path, and once there, keep your eyes on Jesus so that you will not be misled from this path that leads to the narrow gate of heaven!
