THUS saith the Lord, Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death" (Jer. 21:88And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. (Jeremiah 21:8)). Again, " Enter 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: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there he that find it " (Matt. 7:13,1413Enter 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: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13‑14)).
Reader, which way are you traveling? Are you among the many, or the few? Are you on the broad way, or the narrow? Are you on the downward, or the upward road? In plain language, Are you bound to heaven, or to hell? Probably many who read these lines would say in reply, To heaven, I hope. Well, friends, when men want to go to any given place, they usually make sure of the road. And if you wish to be in heaven, you will do well to make sure that you are on the right way. The Word of God is the only guidepost that can direct you rightly. Read on, therefore, and we will endeavor to point you clearly to what it says.
First of all, nothing could be plainer than that all men in the natural state are on the broad way, with their backs towards God, and Christ, and glory, and their faces towards death and judgment and hell. "All we, like sheep, have gone astray,” says the prophet to Israel; “we have turned every one to his own way," &c. (Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)). And this is true in principle of all now. Paul confirms it, saying, " There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seek after God. They are all gone out of the way," &c. (Rom. 3:10-1210As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10‑12)). And again," The way of peace have they not known" (Rom. 3:1717And the way of peace have they not known: (Romans 3:17)).
Think of it; gone out of the way,—the way of peace, God's way,—and gone every one to his own way.
And what are God's thoughts about it all? “The way of the wicked is as darkness" (Prov. 4:1919The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. (Proverbs 4:19)); and " The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord" (Prov. 15:99The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. (Proverbs 15:9)). Darkness! abomination! How awful is man's condition! How terrible his fall Passing swiftly onward down the broad road, without a ray of light from God; his way an abomination in His sight, and nothing but the lake of fire before him. Sinner, arouse thee from thy delusions I Stop! stop! another step may launch thee in eternal woe. Listen to the voice of Scripture, " Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls " (Jer. 6:1616Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16)).
Well, is your ear open to the voice of warning?
Do you inquire for the good way? Would you leave the way of death for the way of life? Then let me put you on your guard. If a man found himself upon a road that led to danger, and would leave it for a path of safety, it is all-important that he should have reliable information. If he simply turned into a path which he thought right, or listened to a deceitful guide, he might still find himself in the danger which he sought to avoid.
So is it with many a precious soul. Thousands wake up in some measure to their danger through the solemn warnings of the Word of God, and, desire to flee from the wrath to come; but instead of listening to the voice of the Son of God, they follow a path that they think right, or listen to the deceitful voice of Satan, who whispers, " Try all you can; do your best, and all will be well.”
Liar! Murderer! soul-destroyer! Sinner, beware!
It is written, "Not of works, lest any man should boast "(Eph. 2:99Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9));" Not by works of righteousness which we have done "(Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)); “Not according to our works" (2 Tim. 1:99Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9)). What could be plainer?
“But surely I must be better, and do all I can to please God before I can be saved?” say many.
They that are in the flesh cannot please God,” says the Word of God in reply (Rom. 8:88So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)). "But I'm so sinful, and I've been treading the broad road so long, surely I must alter my ways, and seek to do what is right, before I can expect to be forgiven?” “There is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Yes, it seems right, but it is all wrong.
Human righteousness will not do for God. It is vain to think that your reformation will make up for your sins. "God requireth that which is past” (Eccl. 3:1515That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. (Ecclesiastes 3:15)). If from this day forth for fifty years you could live without sin, yet every sin of your past long account would stand against you in all its enormity before God. And one of your sins, the smallest in your account, is far more horrible in the sight of Him, who is infinitely holy, than all the sins of all mankind are to you. Your case is utterly hopeless on that ground. It is your way, not God's.
“Far better, surely, to live morally here than in open wickedness; and God will judge each according to their works" (Rev. 20:22And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2)). But morality is not the Savior, and human religiousness is not Christ. God says, "Not of works." Then it is no good thinking that your works will do. The day for doing is long past. It is just repeating what others have done before you,—climbing up some other way. Jesus said of such, they are thieves and robbers (John 10:11Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)).
Where then is the good way? Jesus said, “I am the way." How blessedly simple! Would you leave the broad way, and enter the strait gate and tread the narrow way? Come to Jesus. He, and He alone, is the way. Not a way, or one of the ways, or part of the way, but the way. As another has blessedly said, “The way to the Father, the truth of the whole thing, and the life to enjoy it.” Sinner, will you hearken to His voice?" The way of a fool," we read," is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise" (Prov. 12:1515The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. (Proverbs 12:15)); and, “The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath” (Prov. 15:2424The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. (Proverbs 15:24)). Yes, if you will persist in doing that which is right in your own eyes, and refuse counsel from the Word of God, you will surely reap the fruit of your folly in hell. But should your ear be opened to the voice of the Son of God, this day eternal life is yours. “The way of life is above to the wise; “Christ is now in glory. The Scriptures are able to make you wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me "(John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)).
“I am the way.”
“The new and living Way
Stands open now to heaven;
There, where the blood is seen alway,
God's gift is given.
The river of His grace,
Through righteousness supplied,
Is flowing o'er the barren place
Where Jesus died.”
Again, therefore, we appeal to you, "Come unto Him." "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out "(John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). John spake of Him, “Behold the Lamb of God." Two heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Have you heard? Do you believe? Will you follow? It is wisdom's way, and wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. God has provided Himself a Lamb, and has found perfect satisfaction in Him. In mercy He guarded the way of the tree of life in Eden, when man had fallen; and now in infinite mercy He has opened the way to the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God in glory, through the death of His Son. On Calvary the cherubic judgment fell on Christ, the spotless Lamb. There, in His own bosom, Jesus received the awful stroke of the sword of Divine justice. God hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin. Jesus died. God rent the veil, and God raised His Son from the dead, and glorified Him (Matt. 27:5151And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Matthew 27:51); Acts 2:2424Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (Acts 2:24); John 13:3232If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. (John 13:32)).
The way into the holiest is now made manifest.
Would you enter there? The only way is through Christ. Believe on Him, and you have left the broad road forever. Believe on Him, and you have entered the strait gate, and your feet are on the narrow way.
This is the way of righteousness,—God's way.
And " in the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death " (Prov. 12:2828In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death. (Proverbs 12:28)). It is " The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there but the redeemed shall walk there" (Isa. 35:8, 98And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: (Isaiah 35:8‑9)).
Blessed path! And blessed indeed are they who walk therein. Righteousness and life are there, and no death. Believers are made the righteousness of God, and have eternal life in Him (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21); 1 John 5:1111And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)). They have “passed front death unto life" (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). It is life in Christ risen, beyond death. Death and hell are closed behind them forever. They may fall asleep through Jesus; but this is not what they await., They look for His coining, the Lord of life and glory, who has robbed death of its sting and the grave of its victory. The second death, which is the lake of fire, they shall never see. Christ will come; mortality shall be swallowed up of life, and death in victory. He may come this moment,.
Would He claim you?
Which are you traveling? You must be on one or the other. Either you have believed on Him, and entered the way of life,—the narrow way; or you have not believed, and you are traveling with swift steps the broad way to hell. Few travel the former; many the latter. Are you one of the few?
“Passing onward, quickly passing;
Yes, but whither, whither bound?
Is it to the many mansions,
Where eternal rest is found?
Passing onward—
Yes, but whither, whither bound?”
E. H. C.