The Broad Way

I wonder how often we read these familiar words and think that they refer only to those who are trying to enter the Kingdom of God for the first time? It’s hard for people to find their way to the Lord in a world of many broad deceptions. I had an amusing illustration of that recently, when my wife and I were on a journey one dark evening recently. The weather was very bad, and the road we were on was undergoing resurfacing work. This work entailed one half of the dual carriageway being closed to traffic, which was diverted on to a single way on the other carriageway.

As we went round a roundabout on to the road the signage was not very clear. In addition the road contractors’ vehicles were not blocking off the road under repair as they should have done, and there was a large gap in the barriers that looked like the road we should take. Accordingly I drove up the otherwise empty road, and soon noticed that something wasn’t right, as there was a very rough surface and no other traffic, even though it was a busy time in the evening! A workman appeared who soon directed me on to the straight and narrow (and correct) way.

Broad wrong ways seem so attractive. On a number of occasions I have heard mature believers express their amazement that there could be anything wrong with engaging in alternative therapies and ways of achieving healing which may have very ungodly roots. The enemy is blatantly promoting such things these days. As the Scripture says, ‘Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction’ (Matthew 7:13). Now we must be careful not to speak doom and gloom to all who avail themselves of paths to healing with ungodly roots, but it’s clear from the Scriptures that there’s only one Healer, the Lord God Almighty and believers need to take care which path they pursue.

A bumpy road lies ahead of us when we follow the wrong path. The journey may be delayed, or we may be completely distracted from God’s purpose for our lives. Let’s make sure we pay proper attention to the signposts God puts before us, and avoid those tempting broad ways, preferring to stick to the narrow road of Jesus, even if, at times, it seems more obscure to us.

Prayer: Father, in a world which offers us so many apparently helpful paths for us to travel, please help us to discern the real way and truth of Your Son, Jesus, so that we may fulfil Your purposes for our lives. Amen.