Jesus (Yeshua) speaks of it as two gates—ways—and how we can enjoy the eternal reality even while traveling through this temporal time.
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.
The highway to hell[a] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many
who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and
only a few ever find it.
- 7:13 Greek The road that leads to destruction.
Psalm 1 also discusses the two ways: the way of the wicked and the way of the godly. The Psalm concludes, "For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction," (Psalm 1:6). The LORD watches over us in our going.
The two ways/two worlds/two realities have been around since Genesis chapter 3. But it was not so in the beginning. Genesis 1:1 reads, "In the beginning, God created…" and God saw it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
But then at Genesis chapter 3, where we read of Adam and Eve being tempted by that evil one to eat of the forbidden fruit; in so doing humanity was cast into rebellion against God. That evil one having been kicked out of Heaven because of his pride and cast down to earth to perform his deceptive and dastardly deeds among humanity (see 1 Peter 5:8) to try to build his kingdom – a second world, a second reality. (See Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-18; Revelation 12:7-12.)
And so, there it is the two roads/two worlds/two
realities in this time, either the broad way or the narrow way. The broad
(wide) way is "disguised” – made attractive like it's the easy and most
pleasurable way to go (see Genesis 3:6-9 and 1 John 2:16-17). But then, going
down that way leads to destruction.
Two roads forked along my earthly path,One like what I've been traveling all my days.I as one traveler, at that fork, long I stood,Looking down the other as far as I couldNarrower and winding it wasHardly any travelers were trekking down that road.The other (so familiar), broad and wide,Brilliantly lighted, and voices of joy it seemed --Sports fans, movies, and TV, the Hollywood craves.I enjoyed it too for many of my days,And at that fork, long I stood. Then a whisper,"Come along now, try the narrow path."I shall be telling this with a gleeSomewhere strolling along this temporal way:Two roads forked along my earthly path;
I took the narrow way.
Though rocks and ruts and roots there have been,Trekking with Jesus, the eternal reality in view.there is no end.
Impressions
From The Heart is a self-employed endeavor for the glory of God. If readers of
these posts are blessed, challenged, and encouraged to share their faith, thank
you for your support via PayPal.