Hard Road
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
We’ve all heard plenty of talks, read articles, participated in conversations about these verses. Often, the emphasis is on the many-vs-few aspect. There might sometimes be a bit of self congratulation involved, because of course we like to think we’re among the few.
Occasionally we or someone else will remark on the other aspect. That is, that the way that leads to life is hard. It’s uphill, it’s rough rather than smoothly paved, it is hard to know exactly what the right path is sometimes, and it has a multitude of easy exits that take us right back to the wide downhill highway.
This isn’t the only time Jesus makes the point. One guy promised to follow Jesus anywhere—that’s what we want to do too, right? But Jesus warned, “Even wild animals have homes, but the Son of Man has no place to call home.” (Matthew 8:19-20, paraphrased) And remember his caution to “count the cost” before committing? The context is taking up our cross – not only an uphill road, but carrying a major load—the instrument of our own death! Jesus concludes, “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25-33) Renounce all. Renounce all.
Yet we know in saying these things Jesus isn’t trying to discourage people from following him. The exact opposite! But he will never be guilty of luring people on false pretenses. He wants us to know: it’s hard.
We do know this. In spite of the more comfortable focus on the many/few, we’ve heard and read and thought plenty about the easy/hard aspect. And undoubtedly, if we have even a little experience, we’ve discovered the hardness for ourselves. We might wonder if we’re that tower builder who failed to count the cost. A rough, uphill road can wear you out.
But there’s help. The load is not to be downplayed, but it isn’t ours to carry alone. Even kids can recite, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) The load without Jesus is impossible, but with him right there in the yoke beside us…well we can do this! As he said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Tribulation isn’t nice. It’s a very strong word, and it isn’t limited to persecution as we might sometimes think. He’s talking again about his way being hard. How does it help that he has overcome it? Note that he doesn’t say the tribulation is avoided or lessened. Then what are the grounds for taking heart? It can only be the point he made in Matthew. He hasn’t retired, having won. He’s there in harness with us, pulling the major part of the load, a load he knows very well.
How does this work, exactly? Well it’s going to vary from person to person. We have to first recognize that there’s no promise of the difficulty being reduced! Rather, a promise to help get us through it. A lot of the help comes from just getting our minds right. Remembering what’s eternal, what’s true. To that end the Father and our Lord have provided a ton of help in the written word and in the assurance of their presence right with us. Nothing is sugar coated, the hardness isn’t denied, but we’re shown and encouraged in how to hold up. Another part is the support we get from our fellow travelers on the road. “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1Thessalonians 5:11) The road may be rough, but the Lord’s intention isn’t that it be lonely. We are here for each other.
Making up our mind to support and encourage another, we find we are lifted up too. Because we were made from the beginning to share life, not be alone. (Genesis 2:18) How did Jesus overcome the world, and therefore become able to help us with our load? It wasn’t a military or political or ecclesiastical victory. It was the dedication of his life to the Father and to saving us. He’s our Teacher, right? We’re supposed to follow in his footsteps. Our overcoming (with his help!) will come about the same way as his—love for the Father and for our neighbor on the road, welling up in us, overcoming the roughness of the road.
Love, your fellow traveler, Paul
If you have any feedback, please contact me at: paul.zilmer@gmail.com