When he was eighty-eight years old, the late Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes, once found himself on a train. When the conductor came by, Justice Holmes could not find his ticket; and he seemed terribly upset. He searched all of his pockets and fumbled through his wallet without success. The conductor was sympathetic; “Don’t worry, Mr. Holmes,” he said. “The Pennsylvania Railroad will be happy to trust you. After you reach your destination, you’ll probably find the ticket; and you can just mail it to us.” But the conductor’s kindness failed to put Mr. Holmes at ease. Still very much upset, he said, “My dear man, my problem is not, “Where is my ticket?” The problem is, “Where am I going?”
As this year ends and another begins, we know everyone is in some kind of rat race: a fierce pursuit to make ends meet, acquire certificates, build wealth, climb the ladder of success, improve standard of living, make a mark in life; but after all is said and done, where do these pursuit lead you? Do you know if the pursuit takes you closer or farther from God.
Amidst your daily hustling and bustling, sometimes, take a minute to ponder about the two eternal destinations of man; or are you one of those who believe that life ends here on earth? Friend, the bible tells us that there’s life beyond this realm. When you close your eyes here on earth, they open up in heaven or hell; these are two eternal destinations awaiting all humanity. Examine your life today; are you on the path that leads to eternal rest in heaven?
In Matthew 7: 13 – 14, the Lord counsels, “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. But the gate is narrow, and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
The ‘strait gate’ is the narrow WAY; the way of salvation that leads to eternal life in heaven. It accommodates those who try to walk in holiness and righteousness i.e. liberated from their heavy weight of which they have offloaded at the cross of calvary.
The ‘wide gate’ on the other hand, is the broad way. it is the way of ease and self-indulgence; it accommodates excesses of all sorts, and sin, it has the widest range. it is the way of destruction. Which way are you headed? You may claim you are on the path to life – the narrow way, because you bear a Christian name, and you go to church regularly; or because you are a dedicated worker in your local church, pay tithes, do charity, donate to Christian projects and the likes. All these are commendable; but when you do all these good deeds, and still remain a liar, a thief, an adulterer, a fornicator, a cheat, or indulge in any sinful habits or acts, you are on the path to destruction – Hell.
The only way to eternal life in heaven is the way of repentance from all sins, and faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior. Good works do not make a good person, and Jesus did not come to die to make us good with God he came to die to make us right (righteous) with God. Jesus has already completed the work of redemption. All we need to do is go to him and get this saving grace. He says, in Matthew 11: 28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy burdened/laden, and I will give you rest”. There is an eternal rest awaiting you, if you sincerely repent, accept the lordship of our lord Jesus, to walk in the narrow way till the end.
adapted by me, curled from Deeper Christian Life Ministry
www.dclm.org