“Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27 What wonderful spiritual wisdom from above! The many distractions we face on any given day can easily alter our gaze before we know it. Therefore, we must purposefully remain steadfast in keeping our hearts turned toward heaven and our gaze straight ahead. The winding narrow path of righteousness leading to the narrow gate of heaven is actually not straight as many suppose, but instead is a very narrow path that consists of many turns and twists.
Therefore, why do so many wrongly believe the path to be straight and narrow? This is because of the misinterpretation of the King James Versions translation of Matthew 7:13-14. “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 there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” The word strait (and not straight) is defined as a narrow passage or a situation characterized by a specified degree of trouble or difficulty. For example, you have heard of the narrow Strait of Gibraltar or the saying that someone is in “dire straits.” I mention this to illustrate just how easily the scriptures can, and in fact, are misinterpreted in ways that misled many with false truths. However, I must note the scriptures do instruct us to, “Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be debilitated, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12:13 Thus, if we are truly in Christ we should keep our feet straight upon the path so as we wind our way along it we will not stray to the left or to the right.
Regrettably, because of today’s local church system manmade doctrines and practices, filled with misinterpretations similar to the one illustrated above, congregations (churchgoers), misled by counterfeit claims, do not walk along the narrow path. In fact, those who do follow Christ along this narrow path of righteousness are what Jesus referred to as the few. Unfortunately, those who follow anything other than Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit, such as today’s local church doctrines, are those Jesus referred to as the many who travel along the broad path that leads to eternal separation from God. “Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem. “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’” Luke 13:22-27
Therefore, as you seek to stay on the narrow path of righteousness, “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first. As it has been said: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:12-15 Moreover, Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 Hence, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— and then have fallen away— to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.” Hebrews 6:4-6
Finally, “Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.” Hebrews 10:23-27
Therefore, why do so many wrongly believe the path to be straight and narrow? This is because of the misinterpretation of the King James Versions translation of Matthew 7:13-14. “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 there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” The word strait (and not straight) is defined as a narrow passage or a situation characterized by a specified degree of trouble or difficulty. For example, you have heard of the narrow Strait of Gibraltar or the saying that someone is in “dire straits.” I mention this to illustrate just how easily the scriptures can, and in fact, are misinterpreted in ways that misled many with false truths. However, I must note the scriptures do instruct us to, “Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be debilitated, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12:13 Thus, if we are truly in Christ we should keep our feet straight upon the path so as we wind our way along it we will not stray to the left or to the right.
Regrettably, because of today’s local church system manmade doctrines and practices, filled with misinterpretations similar to the one illustrated above, congregations (churchgoers), misled by counterfeit claims, do not walk along the narrow path. In fact, those who do follow Christ along this narrow path of righteousness are what Jesus referred to as the few. Unfortunately, those who follow anything other than Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit, such as today’s local church doctrines, are those Jesus referred to as the many who travel along the broad path that leads to eternal separation from God. “Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem. “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’” Luke 13:22-27
Therefore, as you seek to stay on the narrow path of righteousness, “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first. As it has been said: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:12-15 Moreover, Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 Hence, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— and then have fallen away— to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.” Hebrews 6:4-6
Finally, “Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.” Hebrews 10:23-27
