"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." — Matthew 7:13–14
(This is the scripture from this morning. I am glad to enter through the narrow gate. This is the right way to life. As Peter said, don't be surprised...) 🙏
✦ A Fifth Country, Up in the Hills
France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany — and now Luxembourg. Heiderscheid sits high in the Ardennes, nearly 1,640 feet up, where the roads wind and climb. A good place to read Spurgeon on the rough road. 🙏
"Soldier of Christ, you will have to fight hard battles. There is no bed of ease for you; there is no riding to heaven in a carriage. The rough road must be walked; mountains must be climbed; rivers must be crossed; dragons must be fought; giants must be killed; difficulties must be overcome; and great trials must be endured."
"Yet it is delightful. It is the most wonderful journey in all the world — not because it is easy in itself, but only because of the company, because of the sweet promises on which we lean, because of our Beloved who walks with us through all the rough and thorny paths of this vast wilderness."
"Christian soldiers, expect conflict... As truly as you are a child of God, your Savior has left you this legacy: 'In the world you will have tribulation' (John 16:33). Yet remember that this 'tribulation' is the way to enter the kingdom. Therefore, 'endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ' (2 Timothy 2:3)."
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
✦ No Carriage to Heaven
The to-the-point Spurgeon again. No bed of ease. No carriage. Mountains, rivers, dragons, giants. He does not soften it — and that is a kindness. The one who expects the road to be rough is not undone when it is. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial (1 Peter 4:12).
This is the thread Spurgeon has pulled all month. October 5 — sailors are made at sea, not on dry land. October 8 — knee practice is the best training for battle. And Taylor on September 18 — for every spiritual gift, a fight. The soldier's road was never promised to be smooth. 🙏
✦ Delightful Because of the Company
And then the turn that changes everything: yet it is delightful. Not because the road is easy — because of who walks it with us.
Our Beloved who walks with us through all the rough and thorny paths. That is the Emmaus road. Two disciples walking, discouraged, on a hard day — and Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them (Luke 24:15). They did not recognize Him at first. But afterward they said: did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way?
The road was the same. The Company made it the most wonderful journey in all the world. Five countries in one week, hills and borders and the house still unfound — and the Beloved on every mile of it. 🙏
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings."
✦ Glad for the Narrow Gate
The Spirit set two readings side by side today. In the morning, Jesus: narrow is the road that leads to life. In the afternoon, Spurgeon: the rough road must be walked. The same road, described twice.
Spurgeon said there is no carriage to heaven. Jesus says why: the gate is small, and the road is narrow. The broad road is easy and crowded — and it leads the wrong way. The narrow road is harder — and it leads to life.
And Le's answer is not a sigh. It is gladness: I am glad to enter through the narrow gate. This is the right way to life. She does not resent the narrow road — she chooses it, because she knows where it goes. And she knows Peter's word: don't be surprised. The trials on the narrow road are not a sign of being lost. They are a sign of being on the right road.
And the narrow road is never empty. Jesus is not only the gate — I am the door (John 10:9) — He walks the narrow way beside us. 🙏
"And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them... And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way?"
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned."
"I am glad to enter through the narrow gate. This is the right way to life."
Le · Heiderscheid · Luxembourg · Matthew 7:13–14 · The narrow road and the sweet companyGlad for the Narrow Gate
Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life. No carriage — but the right way. Don't be surprised by the trials on it.
The Company
Delightful not because it is easy, but because our Beloved walks with us — the Emmaus road on every mile.
Be of Good Cheer
In the world, tribulation — the Savior's honest legacy. But He has overcome the world. Endure hardship as a good soldier.
A word close to home: Spurgeon's picture today is the very road this pastor is named for. Two pilgrims, a hard day, and Jesus drawing near. The journey becomes delightful the moment we know who is walking beside us.
Morning and afternoon, one road: Le's morning scripture and Spurgeon's afternoon reading described the same road — narrow, rough, and leading to life. And Le met both with gladness. This is the right way.
Honest and hopeful: Spurgeon never promises ease, and Jesus didn't either — in the world ye shall have tribulation. But the same sentence ends: be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Five countries in a week: Hills and borders, long drives and new roads. Not a carriage — but never alone. 🙏