Don't forget the warning of the Saviour when he says: "Enter ye in by
the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth
to destruction, and many are they that enter thereby. For narrow is the
gate and straitened is the way that leadeth unto life, and few are they
that find it." Travel the path that becomes shining gold, the one that
grows lovelier, the one where you are never alone: You'll need the
friend of this path when the heartaches and trials are hard to bear.
Don't chance the other path and sell your soul for pleasure, wealth and
damnation.
The journey of life, be it one of success or failure, closely resembles
two paths. When we reach the age of accountability we must of our own
volition choose one of these paths. Where the paths commence to fork out
and go in separate directions we see a sign spread clear across the
entrance and it says: "I am the way, the truth and the light." We study
this for a long time and then go to the other side and on the same sign
board it says: "Though your sins were as crimson they shall be whiter
than snow." We are young, full of life and can't really understand what
it means but we are ready to start on life's pathway and there are only
two paths to choose from.
We look around and see the broad, open path with no restrictions, filled
with the aroma of choice flowers, we meet social companions, have gay
parties, they tell us of the pleasures they are enjoying. From this
survey and study we note that the broad path looks cheerful and
inviting, the narrow one seems straight ahead as far as we can see.
We can notice that the crowd seems to be going the broad way. People in
all conditions of life, well dressed, prosperous looking people of
wealth and affluence, and the ordinary working people in their customary
garb. They look happy and contented, and we decide to take the broad
way.
We didn't notice, until after the start, that the course has a
descending grade and we get a long distance on the way before we call a
halt. We have seen a great many things that are not elevating and we
conclude that after we go a short distance we'll turn back, start over
and take the other path, and though the things that looked so inviting
at the beginning are losing their attractiveness.
The demoralizing things we see are pitiful. There is a poor fellow
reeling with drunkenness. MY! hear that vulgar, profane language coming
from the foul mouth of that young man. There's a party drinking wine,
laughing boisterously and telling stories that are very improper for
ladies and gentlemen. There is a poor girl in a calico dress that seems
to be alone; her face looks sad and she seems to be watching and waiting
for someone. There is a pitiful story in her once pretty face that would
cause you to weep if you knew it.
Look at that old man with a gray beard; he has been a powerful man in
his day, his well built physique tells that. He's a man of more than
ordinary intelligence, his features show fine breeding. He must have got
on the wrong path from not noticing the sign board, he seems out of
place here. I thought so. He is turning back! My! how he stoops as he
commences the ascent. But he is sticking to it. There he is telling a
younger man of the mistake he made and is trying to persuade him to
accompany him back. Well, isn't that splendid! They're both going back.
It must have been that last remark that the elder man said to the
younger man that persuaded him. "Lo, I am with you always even unto the
end of the world."
There is a whole crowd about to start back; are they going? No, they
listen to that well dressed fellow over there smoking a cigarette, and
holding up that beer bottle and he has influenced them to go a little
further. It must have been that last remark he made when he told him
there was going to be a beer drink and a free dance at Switzers that
persuaded them.
They go on and on; they are commencing to look ragged and worn out; the
roses have flown from their cheeks: their eyes are no more full of
lustre and keenness; the gray hairs are showing, the step is not so
firm, but still they go on. Now they are old, they have lived so fast
and reckless that they haven't hardly got the strength nor the
inclination to start to climb that long hill that took forty years of
the best part of their lives to descend. It seems an impossibility and
they do not desire to consider it.
Look at that poor woman over there. Listen to the poor soul as she is
down on her knees and the tears are falling like summer rain. Listen to
her broken, sobbing words. My, isn't she the most pitiful, dejected and
forlorn looking creature you ever saw! Hear her as she sobs "Lord, I saw
the sign but oh I was so foolish, I didn't heed it but I remember it and
dear Lord hear me, I'm old, feeble and poor, I am friendless and I have
sinned and broken Thy laws. Oh take me as I am. Amen."
Who is there beside the blessed Jesus that can pick up this poor
unfortunate daughter as she now stands before the bar of sorrow and
despair awaiting her dues? She was given and entrusted with a pure and
innocent life in infancy but she was frivolous and sought after wealth,
power, position and the many other transitory and fleeting things. She
took her clean, innocent life and so soiled and stained it that it would
be unrecognizable to any one but he who gave it, and now, when it is
filled with barrenness, she comes to her maker with her wasted life,
when in all candor and sense of fairness she could expect nothing in
return, but he says to her "Though your sins were as crimson they shall
be whiter than snow."
Then we see the other path that was trod by the bleeding feet of the
lowly Nazarene. We know the anguish and pain he suffered; we think of
the fiendish death he died that he might say to a sinful people; "Come
unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
This narrow and straight path may not be so beautiful at the beginning
as the broader one. We think if we follow it all joys and pleasures are
gone. But what a mistake, for each day that we travel, it becomes
prettier, the flowers are sweeter, the trees are greener, the skies seem
bluer. We find temptations and trials but we have some one to lean on,
and there is a sweet peace and enjoyment known only to his followers. It
makes it easy to pass the saloon and enter the church. The Lord is in
that little church and his servant there knows every man, woman and
child for miles around. See them cluster around him; he loves them; each
day he lives he does some one a kindness. He listens to your sorrows and
heartaches; his joys are your joys and never a word or thought but one
of goodness and kindness has he for anybody. He looks tired today; he
spent an all night's vigil at the bedside of a sick friend. Did you see
him when he stopped and caressed that little girl who had broken her
doll? It meant something to her and he has won her everlasting
gratitude. See him talking to that young fellow over there who is
wavering and unable to decide which path to take. Notice his warm and
friendly attitude and see, he has won his confidence and has got a
promise from him. See that sweet-faced, light-hearted maiden, he has
just come from her home and she has consented to lead a better life.
Look there, will you! He is helping up that poor man whose feet slipped
from the narrow way and he is taking him home to the broken-hearted
wife. See the sadness on his dear old face as he gives what comfort he
can to the poor woman; he's back again the next day and is talking to
them both. "Yes," they said from now on they'd cling close to the
marriage vows. Don't they all look happy and pleased. There he is again
talking to a poor man who has been unsuccessful, he worked hard, lived
pure but went too heavily in debt and can't meet his obligations. Worry
is making him sorrowful and shortening his days, but the dear pastor
with his hand on his shoulder and his warm words of sympathy has a
telling effect and the heavy clouds are leaving his countenance and as
they part, each understands the other. The cordial, glowing hand-shake
is given and both have received good. There he goes again; he's just
married a young couple and is advising them, he is telling them not to
be down cast when a snag comes along but to work together, tread the
narrow way, keep faith in God, and He will bless and prosper them.
There is pain in his heart today; he has just come from the home of
broken-hearted parents who have laid away in the silent city their first
born. In his great love for them he has told them about Jesus, the
sorrowful life he lived, the great pains and heartaches he endured, and
he did it all for them. As he leaves they love him as a father and a
sweet peace has descended upon them and the wound commences to heal.
And so it goes, day after day,
He's telling some one of God's narrow way;
He's planting some flowers where flowers should be;
He's smoothing the path from dull misery;
Here a kind word, there a good deed,
He's doing his best to meet every need.
The greatest need in keeping in the narrow way is in sincere and earnest
prayer accompanied by a tenacious faith, is the only source that leads
to the full and sweet companionship of the blessed Jesus. The every near
realization, what God can accomplish for us fulfills the truth that the
ever listening ear of a just and righteous master has ample succor for a
burdened and heavy heart. Faith without something to justify its
establishment, though it be ever so great, is in reality groundless and
contains no true merit, but honest prayer for honest motives and coming
from a desirous heart is the great medium through which sinful mankind,
so prone to err, is brought into a close relationship with a wise and
prudent God, a God who willingly compensates every effort whose basis is
a true and unselfish heart.
Trust God fully at all times and pray with such sincere, fervent and
unselfish motives as is only needed to replenish a pure and unspotless
desire. When prayer is answered, as God sees fit to answer, we can
discern its force and effect in our hearts from the knowledge and fact
that a change has taken place and a deep feeling of keen satisfaction
has fully satisfied a craving want. If this were not so the prayer alone
without any manifestation from a true and living God, would be
worthless. A long composition of nicely polished words spoken to an idol
could in no wise be called a prayer. The densest mind could surely
realize that no sympathy lies in anything not able to comprehend a
feeling. Silence would be better and is more valuable. It is better to
keep still than to say something that would cause some one to err or
stumble.