Peril of the popular way – Part 2

The wide gate is the gate through which multitudes enter into life from the age of accountability. The gate takes in everyone with loads of sin and evil without any restriction or restraint. There is ample liberty for everyone desiring to go through the wide gate; the Pharisee and the Saduccee, the hypocrite and the reprobate, the covetous and the deceiver, the self-righteous and the religious, the fleshly, sensual and pleasure-seekers, despisers of God and opposers of righteousness, private and public sinners, unconverted moralists and unashamed criminals, the proud and the worldly, vicious, violent men and vile, vulnerable youths, wicked people and wandering backsliders, tempters, temptresses and their victims all go through the wide gate that leads to the broad way of the world.

“Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” As we have noted already, the wide gate leads to the broad way, which in turn leads to destruction. The broad way is deceptive; it seems right, proper and good to men of carnal reasoning. Since it is a crowded road with many rich, intelligent, worldly-wise, religious and church-going people walking therein, everybody thinks that these multitudes cannot be wrong. Among these travellers are scientists, philosophers, successful businessmen, preachers and priests, notable leaders among men, respected people in society. Can they all be wrong? If they are on the broad way, they are deceived.

The broad way is a downward road; it is easy, convenient and appears pleasant to travel on. It is “the course of this world.” It is the path of self-indulgence, self-gratification, self-interest, self-will, self-seeking and self-satisfaction. There is no hedge, control or self-denial. It is an easy, pleasant way to the flesh.

The broad way is a dangerous road. Unknown to the travellers, it leads to destruction, eternal, irreversible destruction. We can only escape the damnation if we turn back from the broad way by repentance from sin, faith in Christ, true and total conversion to Christ before reaching the end of the way. There is no repentance or second chance after death. No one can be absolutely sure of being alive another day. Decide today, enter the narrow gate and walk in the narrow way. The alternative is the bitter, eternal wages of many, doomed to damnation.

“Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction.” The Greek word translated “destruction” does not mean annihilation. It does not mean that the “destruction” makes the many unconverted people who walked on the broad way cease to exist. See the use of the words “destroy” and “destruction” and compare with other verses in the New Testament (2 Thessalonians 2:8,9; 1:8,9; Revelation 19:20; 20:10). The destruction or damnation refers to a state and a place of conscious, unending, eternal torment and suffering.

Hell, a place of eternal punishment is the final destination of all who walk on the broad way till the end of their lives. The infallible Word of God describes the final destiny of multitudes on the broad way as the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:15; 21:8), devouring fire and everlasting burnings (Isaiah 33:14), a furnace of fire (Matthew 13:41,42), a place of torments (Luke 16:23), a place of everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46), a place of the blackness of darkness for ever (Jude 13), where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:28).

Further Reading (King James Version): Matthew 7:13; Matthew 7:13; Genesis 6:5,12; Psalm 14:2,3; Isaiah 59:7,8,13-15; Romans 1:28-32; Romans 3:9-19,23; Ephesians 2:2,3; Philippians 3:18,19; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 5:19; Matthew 7:13; Psalm 36:1-4; Proverbs 14:12; Isaiah 1:28; 13:6-11; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Romans 2:16-24; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12; 1 Peter 4:17,18; Jude 11-16; Matthew 7:13; Philippians 3:18,19; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9; 1 Timothy 6:9,10; Psalm 9:17; Isaiah 33:12-14; Matthew 23:14,25-28,33; Matthew 25:41; Luke 16:19-31; Psalm 2:10-12.