Everybody seems to be having a great time, Mrs. Wood thought. But hadn’t she invited nine kids to the party? She was sure she had. She got out her list and checked it again. Sure enough, she had invited nine and all of them had said they would be here. But two boys were missing!
“Gabe, do you know where Jude and Isaiah are? I have them on my list but they aren’t here. Don’t they live near you?"
“Yes, Mrs. Wood. Jonah and I started out with them to the party. But then they got a crazy idea to try to get here another way—they thought they knew a shortcut. We told them it was a dumb thing to do because it was almost time for the party to start. But they figured they could beat us by cutting through a field and going down Shorey Road.”
“I wonder if they got lost? It’s too bad that they are missing out on all the fun. I have places set for them at the table and there are special favors for all of you.”
“Well, I kept telling them that Shorey Road wouldn’t get them to your house. It starts out going the right direction, but it turns after a couple of blocks and finally winds up at an old dump. They just laughed at Jonah and me, but I guess they’ll find out the hard way if they keep on that road and end up missing the party.”
Did you know that some people are going to miss Heaven? Not because they planned to miss it, but because they didn’t choose the right road—the narrow road that leads to Heaven. Maybe, like the kids in our story, they think they can get there an easier way or by taking shortcuts. But the Bible clearly states that there is only one way to Heaven. That is through repentance of all our sins and having faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior of our souls. That is what is meant by being born again.
Our Bible text tells us that “strait [or confining] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life . . .” Do you think that a person trying to enter through the gate could squeeze in with even one little sin? No way! They would eventually have to give up and go to the broad way where there’s lots of room for all types of sin.
We cannot enter Heaven if we hold on to any of our sins. Many religious people today believe that we constantly sin, that a person cannot live without sin. That doesn’t sound like the narrow way Jesus was teaching about, does it? Jesus came to save us from our sins.
Why do you think God made the way to Heaven narrow? Did He want us to miss out on some good times? No, it was because He could see this was the best way for us to live. In the beginning He created us to be pure and holy. He knew that sin would bring sorrow and pain.
It’s not hard to walk in the narrow way if you are willing to come to Jesus on His terms. That means you must, first of all, confess that you are a sinner and be truly sorry for your sins. Then, when you ask Jesus’ forgiveness and truly believe that He saves you from your sins, you will feel a peace and knowledge in your heart that you have been born again. That starts you on the narrow way which leads to life everlasting. And God is able to keep you from straying onto some other way that would cause you to miss Heaven.
Check to see which road you are on—God’s Spirit will be faithful to enlighten you. The responsibility, then, rests on you. Which way are you going?
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