Two thousand years ago the Lord Jesus solemnly warned His hearers: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." Matthew 7:1313Enter 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 thereat: (Matthew 7:13).
Two hundred years ago, Rowland Hill, the great English preacher, while pressing home these words of the Savior, used the following homely but penetrating illustration: "My friends, the other day I was going down the street, and I saw a drove of pigs following a man. This excited my curiosity so much that I determined to follow.
"I did so; and to my great surprise, I saw them follow him to the slaughterhouse.
"I was anxious to know how this was brought about; and I said to the man: "My friend, how did you manage to induce those pigs to follow you here?"
"Oh, did you not see," said the man, "I had a basket of beans under my arm; and I dropped a few as I came along, and so they followed me."
"Yes," said the preacher, "and I thought, so it is; the devil has his basket of beans under his arm, and he drops them as he goes along, and what multitudes he induces to follow him to everlasting destruction.
"Yes, friends, all your broad and crowded thoroughfares are strewn with beans of the devil."
Is the same true today? does the broad and wide way leading to destruction still attract the multitudes? The solemn answer is, Yes, only more so. The world has grown weary of the gospel as faithfully proclaimed by Rowland Hill, George Whitfield and John Wesley and many before and since.
The devil has added wondrous variety and novelty to his "basket of beans," and the modern attractions offered on the broad way are truly marvelous. But the pleasures of sin are but for a season (Heb. 11:2525Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (Hebrews 11:25)). Reader, be warned, the broad way still leads to Hell.
Today is the day of salvation. Today the gospel is still preached to those on the downward way: "To open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins." Acts 26:1818To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18).
Will you be one of the "few" to hear the Savior's words and come to Him now?