Most readers have seen a guide-post, and know its use; there it stands at the cross roads, with its arms pointing in different directions, and the needed information painted on them. How convenient to the perplexed traveler! He looks up, reads, and passes on with a light heart. The guide-post points the way, the traveler follows the road pointed out, and finds himself, in the course of time, at his destination.
God in His great mercy has not left us to travel on to eternity in ignorance of whither we are going; He has set up His guide-posts, so that we may not in anywise mistake our way. Let us pause for one moment, and read this one, "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 be 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).
Now, my reader, here is the guide-post calling your attention to the two roads. Where are you? On the broad road which leads to destruction, or on the narrow way which leads to life? On one or other you are most certainly traveling, whether you know it or not. Like the river rolling on to be lost in the ocean, so you are speeding on to eternity, every breath you draw bringing you nearer to everlasting glory, or eternal misery, which?
One of these roads has a wide gate, and many there be which go in thereat. The road is broad—no need to crush each other—plenty of room—souls are born on it, live on it, die on it. It is large enough to hold all, and on it are attractions to suit all as they pass along, according to their various tastes. Moral or immoral, religious or profane, it matters not, so long as Satan gets souls to the end of that broad road.
O reader! beware, lest you are one of those whom he is beguiling with his attractions. The broad road is the road to hell.
The other road is the road to heaven. Its gate is strait, its road is narrow; but it leads to life, and few there be that find it.
Reader! have you found it? Have you passed in at the strait gate of conversion, and are you upon the narrow way that leads to life eternal? There is plenty of room for you to get through, but no room to take anything with you; every rag of righteousness must be stripped off which you would fain take with you, and if you enter the strait gate it must be as an empty and naked sinner.
"Just as thou art, without one trace
Of love, or joy, or inward grace,
Or meetness for the heavenly place,
O guilty sinner, come.”
"Come, for all things are now ready." Come in, sinner, come in! It is Jesus who says "Come." Will you believe what He says, and enter while "yet there is room.”
"I am the door," says Jesus; "by Me, if any man"—how precious, any man—"enter in, he shall be saved"—mark the word, saved —"and shall go in and out, and find pasture." John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9).
Now, which road are you upon? Do not say, I do not know. You do know. You were born on the broad road; and if you are not born again, you are still hastening to eternal ruin and misery, in spite of the warning cries which have been raised to arrest you. Do not continue your present course, it is an awful incline, lest when you want to stop, you cannot. Like a wicked coach-driver when dying, "Ah," said he, "I am on the down grade, and I can’t find the brake." Poor fellow, with fearful rapidity he was rushing into hell. I beseech you, stop and listen to this good news, "God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).
The sin question was raised and settled at the cross. There Jesus glorified God about sin, so that God could glorify Him in heaven, and now there is a Man in yonder glory.
Remember the guide-post calling your attention to the two roads, and where they lead to, the narrow one to heaven, the broad one to hell. God has told you so, therefore you are without excuse.