THE UNITED STATES Has often been called the melting pot of all nations, and rightly so. Various people, kin-dreds and tongues have made their way to the shores of this great nation. As we think of the many nations repre-sented here, we are also reminded of the various walks of life in the lives of men. The employment world gives us a variety, from doctors to ditch diggers. We have the rich and the poor, the citizen and the criminal, and the religious and the profane.

However, it may interest the reader to know that, even though humanity has its various walks, yet it has only two roads on which it travels! These two roads are the avenues by which we flee through life to our eternal abode. Our Lord reveals these two ways in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 7, verses 13,14. He mentions a broad and a narrow way. His exact words are quoted at the end of this tract. Let us now consider the broad way, for it is the main road.

THE BROAD WAY’S GATE

The broad way has a gate which marks its beginning. The gate is wide, simply because it must accommodate every soul born into this world. Over 201,000 humans enter this gate daily! Over 140 souls each minute, two each second! With every breath you draw, an average of eight souls begin their journey (by birth) on the broad way. “They go astray as soon as they be born” (Psalm 58:3).
Not only is the gate wide, but the road is broad. It accommodates the masses of humanity in their various walks of life, from the murderer to the moralist.

THE BROAD WAY’S END

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25). Thus we see that the broad way appeals to folks as being the right way, even though it leads to death. Such deception reveals the blinding power of Satan! Our Lord says it leads to destruction. However, the devil has made it very sce-nic with various pursuits and pleasures which keep the traveler from thinking about death and meeting God, until at the end he plunges into the abode of the lost, to be doomed forever. The end of the broad way is hell fire — an eter-nal calamity indeed!

THE NARROW ROAD

Thank God, the broad way is not life’s only road! The Lord Jesus speaks of the narrow way which leadeth unto life. This road, like the broad way, has a beginning, too. Just as we begin on the broad way by a fleshly birth, so we begin on the narrow road by a spiritual birth which is a divine necessity! The Lord says; “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:6,7). Now baptism is not the new birth, neither is confirmation! Peter speaks of being born again by the Word of God (I Peter 1:23). In the Word of God (the Bible) we have the gospel, “how that Christ died for our sins . . . was buried, and that He rose again the third day” (I Corinthians 15:3,4). When the sinner sees that his sins are tak-ing him to hell — when he turns to Christ and trusts Him for salvation — he is immediately saved, he is born again! He enters the strait gate and begins his journey on the narrow way that leads to heaven. He becomes a new creature — his desires change! He no longer desires the vain amusements of life, but thirsts for the things of God (II Corin-thians 5:17). Many profess to be Christians who are not Christians at all. The true Christian is a “new creature” — born again, with new desires! Reader, when did you experience the new birth and start on the narrow way? The Lord Jesus says; “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 10:9; 14:6).

Is God’s salvation popular? The width of the road to heaven gives the answer. The Lord says it’s narrow and few there be that find it!

The world, by its actions, proves that most are on the broad way. The jukebox is geared to meet public demand. What kind of records do they play? Hymns? What draws the crowd — a humble gospel preacher, or a nearby fair, a professional football game or a prayer meeting? You know the answers. Friend, your desires betray the road you are on!

The broad way is smoothly paved to make it easy to go to hell, but there’s never been a steam roller on the road to heaven. This word “narrow” is also translated “suffer tribulation.” Thus the true Christian bears reproach and scorn for Christ. He is looked upon as a religious fanatic, and the world separates him from their company (Luke 6:22).

What madness to enter the narrow way if it weren’t for what is at the end. It leads to life eternal! It leads to heaven and the Father’s house, eternal comfort and joy with Christ forever! These future blessings make the journey worth-while!

Oh, dear soul, time is short. The end of the road is nearer than you think. Flee to Christ for salvation. Trust Him as your Saviour and enter the narrow road which “leadeth unto life.”

“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” (Matthew 7:13,14).