It’s costly. Hard. It’s the only way that leads to life. Most people think they’re on the narrow path just because they believe in Jesus. But belief alone doesn’t equal entry. The narrow way must be chosen, and it will cost you everything.
If anyone defines ‘encounters’ in a way that captures the weight and wonder of God’s presence, it’s Apostle Joshua Selman. His teaching is unmatched. He says, “encounters are spiritual experiences that make a person or an idea real to you. That is no longer theoretical. It crystallizes the reality of a person, the reality of an ideology to your spirit to your heart, producing conviction so that you are persuaded beyond doubt, beyond turning back.”
Simply put, encounters are spiritual experiences that make God, or a truth about Him, real to you. It moves you from theory to deep conviction, something you know in your heart and can’t turn away from.
You can listen to his full sermon here, starting around the 2:25:00 mark.
W. Clement Stone once said, “Truth will always be truth, regardless of lack of understanding, disbelief, or ignorance.”
Truth doesn’t adjust to your opinion. It’s not dependent on individual opinions or beliefs. So if someone doesn’t believe Jesus is real, Jesus is the way, and the narrow way is the entrance into the gate that doesn’t negate the truth that He is. God being God is not dependent on our belief in Him. He is because He is (Exodus 3:14).
The Narrow Way: Not a Gentle Encouragement but a Command
Matthew 7:13-14 – “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.”
We often think of Jesus is gently urging us to keep going on our faith journey, like a coach cheering on tired runners. But D.A. Carson makes a critical distinction that stops us in our tracks:
“Jesus is not encouraging committed disciples, ‘Christians,’ to press on along the narrow way and be rewarded in the end. He is rather commanding his disciples to enter the way marked by persecution and rewarded in the end.”
Let’s unpack that.
1. Jesus isn’t cheering you on.
This isn’t about encouragement for those who are already living fully surrendered lives. Jesus isn’t standing on the sidelines saying, “Keep it up!” He’s stepping in front of us, saying, “Choose this path. Now.”
2. He’s commanding you to enter.
Jesus is issuing a command, not a suggestion. The narrow way is not something we drift into simply because we attend church or claim to believe in Him. It’s a choice. A costly, conscious, deliberate choice to walk the path He walked.
3. The narrow way is hard.
Let’s be honest, this road is not popular. It’s marked by persecution, rejection, self-denial, and dying to yourself daily. It’s not the path of ease or comfort. But it is the path of Christ.
4. But it leads to life.
Though it’s hard, the narrow way ends in joy, reward, and eternal life. But here’s the sobering truth: you must actually enter it. It’s not automatic, cultural and it’s not inherited. You don’t fall into it by accident, you step into it on purpose.
Are you walking the narrow way…
…because you’ve entered it through surrender?
Or are you assuming you’re on it because of your beliefs or where you go on Sundays?
A Lesson From the Road
Recently, we decided to drive to and from Houston back to Alabama (and let me just say, we won’t make that decision again). I had been driving for about five hours straight. It was probably around 2 or 3 in the morning, and I was exhausted. That’s when we hit a construction zone. The road narrowed down to one lane, and a concrete wall blocked off the other side. It was tight. I was driving a big truck, and I knew that if I drifted even an inch to the left or the right, I’d either damage the truck or cause a major accident for the cars behind me.
So now I am locked in, trying to stay centered. And right there, I felt the Holy Spirit gently impress something on my heart: This is the narrow road.
I realized in that moment: the narrow road isn’t just about me. It’s about those following behind me, too. One wrong move from me could’ve led to destruction not just for my vehicle, but for everyone on the road behind me. And spiritually, it’s the same way. My choices, my obedience, my focus, they matter not just for me, but for those who are coming behind me. Those watching. Those depending on me to lead well.
Yes, you and I both default to the wide road, the popular road, the low-resistance road, the “I’ll do what I want” road. We want to indulge ourselves, not deny ourselves. We want to live how we want, go where we want, and do what we want, without the weight of obedience. But the narrow way demands focus. It demands surrender. And it requires humility.
Because one wrong move could cost you everything, it could separate you from God. It could cause you to fall back into sin. One careless drift could position you in opposition to the Lord, all because you decided to lead yourself.
Why We Resist the Narrow Way
By nature, we lean toward comfort, not crucifixion. We’d rather scroll than seek, binge rather than build, and settle into what’s easy rather than press into what’s eternal. We avoid the narrow road of discipline, choosing what feels good in the moment, even if it costs us later.
Surrender feels like too much. Obedience feels too hard. Focus feels inconvenient. So we gravitate toward the wide, broad road, the comfortable road, the road where we get to call the shots until we crash.
It’s not wide. You can’t do what you want. You can’t afford to drift. It requires focus. It requires discipline. And it requires staying centered, on Jesus.
There has to be a holy submission. A letting go, a yielding to Jesus.
The narrow road isn’t easy, but it’s right.
And it’s the only one that leads to life.
Here’s your BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front):
1. The narrow road demands focus your drift affects more than just you.
2. Surrender isn’t optional if you want to stay in step with Jesus.
Let this sink in:
You can’t afford to drift.
This season demands your full attention.
There’s too much of a cost on your life to carry lightly.
Too many are connected to your obedience.
Eternity is too real to treat casually.
Fix your focus.
Root yourself in surrender.
Jesus isn’t just calling for agreement. He’s calling for action. For entry. For a decision that changes everything.
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Thank You
We hope you loved exploring this topic with us. We pray it blessed you to surrender, dwell, and abide in God’s Presence. Now, it’s your turn; which question stood out most to you? Which one will you ask someone today? Drop a comment below, and let’s keep the conversation going! We can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
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