“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, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
This column is in its fourth year. Those who have followed this page over the period may have begun to discern our mission-to influence society, principally Nigeria towards a transformation of its values and way of life-economic, political and social. Even though the “centre of gravity” of the column is economy and business, such transformation must be total-which means not just the body and mind, but also the spirit. That is why we write on economy, politics, society, sports, entertainment and religion. That is why around Easter and Christmas, we often have one or two articles focused on faith and religion. This year, that article may have tarried, but was sure to come!
I was never in any doubt what I was going to write about. For several weeks, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Mathew 7: 13-14 above (KJV) had continually rang in my mind, and I soon realised that perhaps I was required to share it with readers this season. Jesus in those verses’ paints two different scenarios-one, a broad way and wide gate leading to destruction; and the second, a narrow road and small gate that leads to life. The NIV translates those words as, “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.”
There are several implications of these words. First when you see a large crowd of people and an undiscriminating assembly in which everyone is comfortable, it may be popular, fashionable, may appear credible, but as far as Jesus is concerned it is likely to lead to destruction. Clearly God’s standards are different from ours. Men seek safety in numbers; but with God “many are called, but few are chosen”. Like I once heard someone say, one test you can apply to discern God’s will concerning a matter is to check where the world is going and then turn in the opposite direction!
Another implication is that it is not difficult to locate the broad way. It is conspicuous and pervasive; you know several people on that way and the road is well advertised! Anyone you ask will tell you how to get there; and there are many signposts and entry points!!! You can enter the Third Mainland Bridge from Osborne Road in Ikoyi, Obalende, Simpson, CMS, Tafawa Balewa Square, Costain, Adekunle in Yaba, Oworonshoki, Anthony, Ogudu, Ojota and Toll Gate. You can’t miss it! Who in Lagos does not know Broad Street! But you have to FIND the narrow way! Naturally few are interested in such a narrow, inconspicuous way. It is not “the place to be” and is difficult to locate.
The narrow way may be located inside a private estate or could be a dusty, unmarked road in the wrong side of town. That is probably why it is despised and only a few find it. Jesus does not leave the conclusion of the two different journeys to us to imagine or deduce. He is categorical that the broad road and wide gate leads to destruction while the narrow road and small gate leads to life. And he makes it clear that there is a large multitude, the overwhelming majority proceeding happily on that road to hell, and only a few will find the narrow road that leads to life. A word should be enough for the wise!
One can argue that much of the Church today more closely resembles the wide way. The standards are not different from that of the world. The pursuits, interests and priorities as well as the “strategies” and “tactics” are the same and the objective is numbers, precisely as on the wide way rather than the undiluted gospel of Christ which as we know often antagonises. Indeed, if you see a large meeting, going by the words of Jesus above, it is more likely a wide bridge that at best leads to no where or at worst an expressway to hell! Anywhere Christ, his disciples, Paul, Stephen or any of the examples of our faith preached, they made society especially the corrupt and wicked severely uncomfortable and that is why the Pharisees and the Council felt they had to kill them.
I believe it is not a coincidence that immediately after the words above, Jesus utters the following words, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits…” Is Jesus implying that in all probability, there will be many false prophets on the wide road leading the people to their destruction? Are you sure you are not been led along the broad way? Let us carefully search for the narrow way, and by his grace, we will find it.
*This article was first published in Businessday Nigeria on April 22, 2009.
