The Narrow Path

One of my favorite books is called “Pilgrims Progress.” It is a famous allegory about a man named Christian who is tormented by anguish and carrying a heavy burden on his back in his hometown, the City of Destruction. Christian, desperate for hope, meets a spiritual guide named Evangelist who tells him about a way to get rid of his burden. He also shares with him how to obtain the salvation that can only be found in Mount Zion, The Celestial City. This is where he will be able to enjoy freedom and eternal life forever.

However, it comes with a high cost. Christian is forced to leave his hometown without his wife and kids and go on a grueling journey through the wilderness. He encounters all sorts of characters, roadblocks, and creatures trying to get him off the narrow path that Evangelist told him to go on.

For example, Christian meets a man named Mr. Worldly Wiseman who lies and says that the narrow path he is walking on will lead him astray. He convinces Christian to go on a broad road to the town of morality to get his burden removed by someone named Legality. Christian follows his advice only to find out his burden gets heavier and almost completely crushes him. Evangelist finds him, puts him back on the narrow path, and explains to him that religious rules will never be able to free Christian from his burden. In fact, it will only frustrate him and further trap him into bondage. The only way to freedom is by following the narrow path.

I won’t spoil the rest of the book but I find it fascinating how many parallels there are to our world today. In the book of Matthew, Jesus says, “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 the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Jesus is explaining to his followers that there are essentially two ways to go in life. You can live for the broad road of this world that may seem like the right choice, but the reward is only temporary and will ultimately lead to destruction. Or you can choose to take the narrow path by following God’s way. 

Characteristics of the narrow path:

• Joy
• Peace
• Love for yourself and others
• Fullness of life
• Uniqueness
• Grace and forgiveness
• Self-control
• Leading others in a positive direction
• Leaving an eternal legacy

Characteristics of the broad road:

• Temporary satisfaction
• Fitting in with the crowd
• Living for the accumulation of worldly accomplishments and fame
• Envy
• Selfishness
• Lack of purpose
• Leading others to destruction
• Bitterness and negativity 

The truth is that no one measure’s up to the standard required to enter through the narrow gate. Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, we all have to fight a sinful nature every day. Just like how Christian was deceived by Mr. Worldly Wiseman, there are many ways that we can be deceived into the temptations of this world. However, God’s grace sent through the sacrifice of His son Jesus is always right there to pick us up when we fall and set us back on the right path. 

I pray that anyone reading this blog will get a glimpse of just how much God loves you and how the blood of Christ will forever be enough to forgive you, carry you, and empower you to walk upon the narrow path to heaven.

The Bigger Picture: Even though the narrow path is unpopular, challenging, and requires a tremendous amount of sacrifice, it will be worth it in the end.