Choosing Between Straight and Narrow, Wide and Winding

Years ago, I returned to my boyhood hometown to attend a high school reunion. Deciding to take a trip down memory lane, I drove past the house where I grew up and visited the “grammar school” I had attended. Going into the school surprised me in several ways. 

For one thing, the demographics had changed. Many of the kids there had last names like Gonzales, Lopez, Torres and Martinez. The closest to my name was probably Tamayo. But what surprised me most was the size of the school. It was much smaller than I remembered.

 

I can still recall my first day of school, walking down what seemed like a long, cavernous hallway to my kindergarten classroom. When I revisited the school, however, the hallway wasn’t long at all. It was so narrow I could touch both walls with my arms extended. It was barely wide enough for two people to pass.

 

Over the years since my grade-school days I’ve learned lots of things in life are narrow. Have you ever seen one of those videos on social media of a car or bus perilously traveling a single-lane road around a mountain in some Third World country? Turning around is unthinkable. The driver of the vehicle must be praying no one’s approaching from the opposite direction.

 

We’ve all encountered a narrow bridge where only one vehicle can cross at a time. If you arrive and several cars are coming from the other direction, you have no choice but to wait until they’ve gone by. Sometimes the same is true for tunnels carved through mountains. They’re either one-way, or you have to wait your turn when another vehicle is coming through going the other way. 

 

Traveling in Europe, I saw many narrow stairways in old parts of towns. In the walled city of Sopran, Hungary the entrance is a narrow tunnel that centuries ago was intentionally designed to repel the advance of enemy soldiers. Even Rock City on Lookout Mountain has its “Fat Man’s Squeeze” through which only slender people can pass – one at a time. Narrow can be so annoying.

 

We frequently hear complaints that Christianity is “too narrow,” that its teachings are too restrictive, too exclusionary. Jesus Christ offered no apologies for the ‘narrowness’ of following Him. Speaking to a large crowd during what is commonly known as His “sermon on the mount,” Jesus admonished, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

On another occasion, while Jesus was teaching in some towns and villages someone asked, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He responded, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able…” (Luke 13:23-24).

 

Some might argue, ‘But isn’t this narrow-minded? Aren’t there many ways to God? As long as you’re sincere?’ Jesus’ answer to this is simple, yet sobering. Speaking to His disciples just before the Passover Feast, He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Yes, this sounds narrow, even dogmatic. But Jesus was declaring, “There’s no other way.”

 

While other religions and belief systems urge their adherents to seek God’s acceptance through good works or by keeping various rituals, Christianity is unique in asserting there’s no way we can merit His approval or assurance of eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9 states categorically, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

 

The “faith” it talks about is Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross, shedding His blood to make the once and for all payment for our sins: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

 

If that seems too narrow for some, it’s because we don’t – and can’t – fully comprehend the holiness and righteousness of God. It’s not a matter of good outweighing bad, or of “cleaning ourselves up” to become acceptable. In the Lord’s eyes, “good enough” can never be good enough: “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6). Hence Jesus being the one and only way to God.

 

It’s not just the New Testament that teaches just one path to God. In the Old Testament the prophet wrote, “And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it – only those who walk in the Way – and fools will not stray onto it” (Isaiah 35:8). Similarly Psalm 1:6 warns, “For the Lord guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” 

 

Narrow might not be our preferred course for travel, but it’s the only way of avoiding the temptation to defy or ignore the precepts and principles God has provided through His Word. King Solomon, who suffered firsthand the consequences of choosing the wide road, offered a “Beware – Danger Ahead” caution among his many proverbs. In fact, Solomon felt it was so important he repeated it: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25). 

 

The question we each must ask ourselves today – and every day – is, “Which way am I going to take? The narrow one – or the wider one that seems so enticing?” In the annals of rock music, there’s a “Highway to Hell” but a “Stairway to Heaven.” Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.

Requirement To Earn God’s Acceptance: ‘Do Nothing’

Have you noticed how much of life involves earning what we want? It starts when we’re kids and Mom and Dad give us a small allowance, often with the caveat that we perform certain chores like cleaning our room or putting our toys away. We go to school where we’re told to pay attention, do our homework, study and prepare for tests so we can earn good grades. 

Then we get into the work world and find a similar principle: To earn money we must perform specified responsibilities to the satisfaction of our boss or supervisor. But it doesn’t end there. To find a better job, gain a promotion or get an increase in pay, we have to earn it.

 

For athletes, it’s always about earning. Making the team, winning a spot in the starting lineup or a role as a key backup, then maintaining or securing that position. They have to earn it – every day.

 

So, it’s not surprising to assume the same would be true of the spiritual realm. Many people expect the prevalent message to be about earning: Earning God’s love, earning His acceptance, earning salvation and admission into heaven. Doing our best to be ‘good enough.’ Except for one thing: That’s not what God teaches in His Word.

 

The Scriptures teach that no matter how much good we do, it will never be sufficient to earn God’s acceptance and approval. Isaiah 64:6 declares, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags….” In case that’s not clear enough, Romans 3:10-12 tells us, “There is no one righteous, not even one… All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

 

“But I’m a good person,” someone might argue. “Look at all the good things I’ve done – and continue to do. Why isn’t that good enough?” That was the attitude of a rich ruler who, according to Luke 18:18-23, approached Jesus Christ one day while He was addressing a sizable crowd. He asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” A reasonable question, right?

 

“‘Why do you call Me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”’” The ruler probably felt rather smug upon hearing this because he replied, “All these I have kept since I was a boy.” Check, check, check, check – and check.

 

What Jesus said next stopped him cold. “‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’ When he heard this [the ruler] became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.”

 

The Lord wasn’t giving this man a lesson in generosity, or the pitfalls of affluence. He was helping him to understand that no matter what we do, we can’t earn – or pay – our way to eternal life. It’s not a matter of performance, but a matter of the heart.

 

Someone who had studied the world’s religions, along with Christianity, concluded, “Religion is spelled with two letters, DO. Do this, do that. Christianity is spelled with four letters, DONE.” Because, as we just observed during Good Friday and Easter, Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection did for us what we could never achieve ourselves. As Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

 

I think back to my high school years when I first heard the truth that salvation – God’s acceptance and the assurance of eternal life – is solely a matter of faith, not anything that we do. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

 

This isn’t an isolated passage because many others say much the same. For instance, a few verses earlier the apostle Paul affirms, “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5). And elsewhere the apostle explains, “[God our Savior] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

 

There’s absolutely nothing we can do to earn God’s grace – His unmerited favor. As an old hymn says, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

 

However, the fact that we can do nothing to earn or deserve the Lord’s forgiveness and acceptance into His holy family doesn’t give us the license to do whatever we want. Two other verses, I call them the “do nothing” passage, specify how we’re to act as those whom God has redeemed: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). 

 

Just as Jesus willingly went to the cross, denying His own interests to become the atoning sacrifice for our sins, as “new creations in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17) we are to put the needs and best interests of others ahead of our own. In this way we can, “prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

Be Careful About What You Think You’re Entitled To

When you hear the word “entitlement,” what comes to mind? Like a lot of words in the English language, it carries a variety of meanings. It can amount to an “if A, then B” or “if this happens, then that will happen” cause-and-effect type of statement. For instance, for hourly wage workers, if they work five hours, they should get paid for five hours work. Or, if you practice a skill consistently, then you can expect improvement.

We hear about “government entitlements.” These include Social Security and Medicare benefits for which many recipients had money deducted from their paychecks during their working careers. They’re “entitled” to receive benefits they’ve essentially paid for in advance. Other government entitlements, however, are distributed to people who’ve contributed little or nothing ahead of time.

 

Then there’s the sentiment that people “deserve” certain things, for no reason other than they are living and breathing. I’m of the opinion that people don’t “deserve” a luxury car, expensive house, or a pricey college education, unless they’re willing to repay the debts incurred by acquiring them. Thinking differently, it seems, has led many in our society to an entitlement mentality.

 

Leadership consultant Tim Kight describes it this way: “Entitlement comes from wanting more than you are willing to work for. It’s the result of a ‘want ethic’ rather than a work ethic.” 

 

I remember a job at a grocery store I had while a senior in college. Since I’d worked in a different supermarket in another state while I was in high school, I assumed because of my experience I was “entitled” to the job regardless of how much effort I expended. Uh-uh. A few weeks into it, my manager put me on notice that if I didn’t pick the pace and work harder, the only thing I’d be entitled to was walking out the door and not coming back.

 

Heeding the warning, I did start working more diligently. This “entitled” me to remain on the store payroll as a grocery clerk. But also realizing my future wasn’t in the grocery business, I formulated a plan that could entitle me to devote my career to endeavors more suited to my interests and abilities.

 

This is one reason I’m a strong advocate of personal initiative, hard work, determination, and approaching challenges with a positive attitude. Just as some people define “luck” as putting in the work and preparation necessary to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves, I believe people are entitled to reap the rewards of their hard work.

 

I’m not the only one who thinks this way. The Bible is filled with teachings and principles about the importance of hard work and diligence. The Old Testament book of Proverbs offers many examples. For instance, Proverbs 10:4-5 declare, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”

 

Even if we’ve never worked on a farm, it’s clear that if a person is unwilling to expend the necessary effort, they shouldn’t feel entitled to anything in return. As the adage tells us, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

 

Another verse points out the likelihood that diligence will bring the opposite outcome: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).

 

Paradoxically, however, the Scriptures place their greatest emphasis on receiving the things we truly are not entitled to – salvation, forgiveness, a personal relationship with God, and assurance of eternal life after our earthly lives have ended.

 

When asked, “Do you think you’ll go to heaven when you die?” many people will answer, “I think so. I’m a pretty good person.” To which the Word of God seems to respond, “Wrong!” Because Romans 3:10-12 states, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…there is no one who does good, not even one.”

 

Underscoring that point, Romans 3:23 delivers the bad news: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In other words, not one of us measures up to God’s perfect, holy standard. 

 

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait too long to read more comforting words, even if they have nothing to do with our being “entitled.” Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Then Romans 6:23 observes, ”For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

We could cite many other passages, but two in particular capture the Bible’s position that salvation and right standing with God can’t be earned or deserved, but received only on the basis of His mercy and unmerited favor.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 asserts, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Titus 3:5-7 affirms this: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy…so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs [with Christ] having the hope of eternal life.”

 

We can debate “entitlements” as they’re currently perceived in our society, but from God’s point of view, we’re entitled to absolutely nothing. Anything and everything we receive from Him is solely on the basis of His love and grace. 

Grace: Definitely Not a Blue-Eyed Blonde

Some time ago, I was in a Christian bookstore – remember those? – and noticed a book entitled, Grace Is Not a Blue-Eyed Blonde. Curious about the title, I picked it up and scanned the back cover description. As promised, the book was not about someone named Grace, but about an indispensable element of biblical truth: God’s grace.

Many distinctives make Christianity unique among the world’s myriad other belief systems, but in terms of importance, grace ranks near the top.

 

As a friend of mine used to say, “All other religions are spelled ‘DO’ – do this, do that. Christianity is spelled ‘DONE’ – Jesus Christ has done everything necessary for us to experience God’s forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life.” At the heart of this is the biblical concept called grace, which literally means the Lord’s unmerited or undeserved favor – His unconditional acceptance. The Bible teaches we can’t earn God’s love, and if we’re His children, we can’t do anything to lose it.

 

This is hardly a new perspective. It was a driving force for the Christian Reformation, and over the years numerous books have been written to help us in fully understanding what the Bible teaches about grace. Philip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace? and Chuck Swindoll’s The Grace Awakening are just two that I’d recommend. 

 

We even have the classic hymn, “Amazing Grace,” that’s been sung not only in church sanctuaries and chapels, but also in theaters, auditoriums and arenas around the world. However, when I hear people singing it, I sometimes wonder if they’ve really let the lyrics sink in. Here are a few stanzas from a contemporary rendition of that soulful tune:

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

 

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

 

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood, His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

 

If anyone ever was a candidate to fully grasp the incredible, incomparable grace of God, it was the writer of “Amazing Grace,” John Newton. In his earlier life, Newton had served as a captain of slave ships, and even after retiring from life on the sea, continued to invest in the slave trade until 1754. 

 

However, after a dramatic spiritual encounter with Jesus Christ during a storm at sea, that all began to change. Time spent in Africa helped him to understand the plight of slaves in a very different light. Instead of being a participant in the reprehensible system, Newton became an advocate for abolishing slavery. Ultimately, he became an ally of William Wilberforce, leader of the British Parliamentary campaign to abolish the African slave trade, and lived to see the passage of anti-slavery legislation in 1807.

 

In 1788, in a pamphlet called, Thoughts Upon the Slave Trade, Newton described the horrific conditions he had witnessed on the slave ships. Repenting of the deeds of his past life, Newton offered "a confession, which...comes too late.... It will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me, that I was once an active instrument in a business at which my heart now shudders." 

 

Can you imagine? How could someone live with the guilt of having been engaged in such evil, inhumane practices? As Newton attested in his now-famous hymn, it was possible only through God’s redeeming and transforming grace.

 

Centuries earlier, the apostle Paul had written about a similar, 180-degree change in his own life. Once a proud, enthusiastic adversary of the first-century Church, he turned into one of the most zealous ambassadors of Jesus Christ. He wrote:

“For I am the least of the apostles and do not deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10).

 

Christianity turns the faith-works debate on its head. While so many belief systems concentrate on how a person can become “good enough” to earn God’s acceptance, the Scriptures teach there is nothing we can do to establish ourselves worthy of His love. Our works, therefore, should be an outflow of our relationship with the Lord. As Ephesians 2:8-10 clearly declares: 

“For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Because of this, we need not wallow in guilt and remorse over past sins. When we turn to God, seeking His forgiveness, He not only wipes our slates clean, but also begins the process of turning us into living testimonies of His grace. Like John Newton, we can experience the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17, which states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”