IT’S A VERY NARROW ROAD…A VERY, VERY NARROW ROAD — Part 10

The View From Above: Thoughts To Help With Everyday Life

October 14, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

IT’S A VERY NARROW ROAD…A VERY, VERY NARROW ROAD — Part 10

Jesus said so, and it’s not easy to stay on that narrow road.

Matthew 7:13–14

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Two ways, two roads…two gates, one wide, easy to travel on and get through, and one narrow.

We have a lot of options in life…most choose what appears to be the easier way, the wide gate.

It’s the one most are traveling on.

The narrow gate, Jesus describes, is difficult and challenging, and it seems that most won’t be choosing it.

It takes a unique kind of effort, and it will be your greatest challenge of life.

The narrow gate represents the exclusive, singular path of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, contrasted with the wide, easy ways of the world.

Luke put it this way:

Luke 13:24

“STRIVE to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

The word “strive” means to endeavor with strenuous zeal in order to obtain something.

That’s the reality of contending for God’s perfect will in your life.

Narrow, it points to one thing that you must do.

As the Apostle Paul said:

Philippians 3:13–14

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but ONE THING I DO, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

That really defines it for us…”one thing”, this one thing I do.

That’s what I’m looking for in life.

The one thing that pleases God, the narrow boundaries of obedience to Him and His Word.

A life lived in the narrow framework that will glorify God in my life.

God has A PLAN and A PURPOSE for my life, and I am striving to discover that day by day and do what is necessary to live that out.

There are a lot of things that won’t fit through the narrow gate.

Sin, disobedience, and compromise won’t fit.

Self-will driven by pride, there won’t be room to carry it through the narrow gate.

I don’t have time to waste on frivolous pursuits, and I have to work at ridding myself of burdens that are too heavy and take up too much space in my life.

Entering God’s Kingdom requires wholehearted intentionality, repentance, and dropping self-righteousness and idolatry, that is, putting things before God.

The narrow road is what I and you should be looking for.

We all know beforehand it is going to take striving, it is going to require discovering that one, singular pursuit and giving it your all.

The reality is we can travel the narrow road…it isn’t too hard or beyond our ability.

So, don’t get discouraged along the way.

Hang in there, be tough, let God help you and strengthen you.

That is what He does best.

Through Him, by virtue of our relationship with Jesus, we all have what it takes.

Does it require a wholehearted effort?

Yes.

Is it beyond our ability?

Of course not.

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Romans 8:37

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

So, therefore, I say to the narrow gate: Here I come.

I’m going to narrow the boundaries and interests of my life so that I fit through you, and I am committed to the narrow road that is defined by God’s perfect will for my life.

1 John 2:17 (AMP)

“The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.”