The Road Few Travel

Taking the road to salvation is not easy. The narrow way that leads to life abundant and life eternal, is difficult and it is a road few travel. God made you for a purpose: to have fellowship with the Lord Jesus. "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9). God wants us to know Him and be with Him. He made us for that purpose. Seek Him first above all else: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33).

Jesus is the narrow way that leads to life. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matt. 7:13-14). Through Jesus you can realize God's purpose for your life.

Man's problem: Sin. Fellowship with God is broken by sin: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Sin leads to destruction: "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23a). In sin you "sink in deep mire" (Ps. 69:2a). The more you struggle trying to reach God through your own efforts, the deeper you sink in the miry clay. Sin is such an affront to God; you can never be good enough to be saved. You cannot save yourself. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). Good works cannot save you. Salvation comes from God. Only by God's grace are you saved through faith.

God's solution: Jesus Christ. He shed His blood and died for us. "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22b, NIV). "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). Christ died for you and rose again for you. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures… He was buried, and… He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3-4). All that Jesus went through, all that He suffered, was for you, for your salvation.

At the cross, Jesus shed His blood for you. He forgave you and lifted you out of the miry clay. He rose again and set your feet on the narrow way that leads to life with God. As David said, "He… brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps" (Ps. 40:2).

Man's response: Believe and receive Jesus. "The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23b).  "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9). "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12a). Together, these verses tell us what you must do to be saved: (1) Confess your sin and repent—turn away from sin; (2) Confess Jesus as Lord and believe He rose again; and (3) Pray to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Here is a suggested prayer (you can use your own words): "Lord Jesus, forgive me of all my sin. I believe you died and rose again to give me new life. Come into my life and make me the person you want me to be. Amen."

God's blessing: Assurance of salvation. God promises eternal life to all who receive Him: "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:11-13).

What happened when you received Christ? First, God lives in you to guide you: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). Second, your sins are forgiven: "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:14). Third, you are His child in fellowship with Him: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).

What now? (1) Read the Bible and pray: "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). (2) Tell others what Jesus means to you: "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (John 15:8). (3) Worship at church regularly: "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Heb. 10:24-25). Amen.