Christian Living

Which Road Are You On? Part One

by Doug Laird 
09/09/26
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Being told that you are, “old fashioned and in need of getting with the times,” is a good indication that you are on the Math. 7: 14 path least travelled, but it also is an indication that you are headed in the right direction.

“For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to (eternal) life and there are (only a) few (the minority) who (ever) find it (Matt. 7:14 NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”

Any time I see large gatherings, I can’t help but wonder how many would still be there if the Rapture were to take place before the event was over. The same could be said for Church worship services, holiday celebrations with family and friends, and co-workers.

Matt. 7:13, 14 is one of the most ominous passages of New Testament Scripture, clearly teaching that only the minority will be saved, and that consequently, the majority has a scheduled appointment when they will be tossed into what the Bible calls, the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 15).

Perhaps even more unsettling, is the Luke 12: 52 teaching, that even within a single-family unit, some will be saved, whereas others will not. This should be an eye-opener, since in most cases, all family members usually go through (or are put through) the same religious traditions of their chosen denomination.

“Enter through the gate; for the (other) gate is wide and the way is broad (easily accessed and travelled upon) that leads to destruction, and there are many (the majority) who (will try to) enter (Heaven) through it. (Matt. 7: 13 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

Following the crowd, doing what “everybody else is doing,” is what the people of Noah’s day did. And then one day, it started to rain.

The truth is “everybody” is NOT doing “it.” There is the Matt. 7: 14 minority in every generation that DID not, is NOT, and WILL not be “doing it.” “It” in this verse is ANY activity that contradicts the teaching, requirements, and or prohibitions of Scripture.

Scripture (Matt. 24: 37-39) tells us that just before Christ returns, life here on Earth will be likened to the days of Noah. In the days of Noah, the world had become a violent, immoral, and ungodly place to live, but on the other hand, it was daily life and business as usual for many, right up to the day God closed the door of the ark, and it began to rain!

Although it is God’s desire for all souls to be saved (1Tim. 2: 4), the Intake Center of the Torments of Hades is a busy place, where according to Matt. 7: 13, 14, the majority of the 150,000 souls (according to secular statistics) departing this world every day, find themselves.

Although it is God’s desire that all born-again believers identify and execute post salvation discipleship, many will not. They remain saved (Rom. 8:1) and permanent residents of Heaven, but forfeit the reward and privileges in Heaven, that are reserved for only the ones who became advancing disciples during their time here on Earth.

No one is more “old-fashioned” than God, to Whom all born-again believers are all going to stand before and give an account of their post salvation spiritual life (2Cor. 5: 10).

One’s sins ARE not the issue at this accounting (Rom. 8: 1). The forgiveness of ALL sins committed by a born-again believer, and whatever divine discipline (Heb.12: 6) there was going to be, already took place here on Earth.

Divine discipline can range in anything from living with a guilty conscience, up to, and including, in some cases, physical death.

It is the quality of one’s post salvation spiritual life that will be under review at this 1Cor. 3: 12-15 accounting-event, that takes place in Heaven. There will be NO unbelievers present at this event. The final judgement of all departed unbelievers takes place at a different event with a different outcome (Rev. 20: 15).

Having us think that it is our sins that we are going to answer for (at this accounting) is one of Satan’s great strategies to take the focus of our attention away from what the post salvation spiritual life is all about.

The quality of one’s post salvation spiritual life is determined by the level of spiritual maturity one reaches here on Earth, and the amount of divine good (Mark 4: 19), if any, that was produced. The level of one’s spiritual maturity is determined by the amount and application ( James 1: 22) of accurate Bible Doctrine, reflected in one’s own conforming to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8: 29) in thought, words, and actions, and one’s participation in the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19, 20).

The hostile fallen nature with which we all came into this world does NOT go away when we are saved (Rom. 7: 21). In fact, it increases its pressure on the soul, keeping pace with whatever forward progress one makes along the road to spiritual maturity.

We all have our own different thoughts and opinions, reflected in the ongoing choices we make, rationalizing and justifying just about any choices we make. But it is not OUR opinions that are going to matter when we are called up to give an account of ourselves, if our opinions and decisions do not line up with what God had to say in His Word.

Birds of a feather flock together, offering acceptance, comfort, and support to each other, who share the same thinking and accompanying lifestyles, be they right or wrong, good or evil.

Interesting enough, it’s not the association with ungodly people that 1Cor 5: 11 speaks against. It is associating with people who talk the talk of a Christian, but do not walk the walk.

“But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother (fellow Christian) if he (or she) is a sexually immoral person, or a greedy person, or an idolater, or is verbally abusive, or habitually drunk, or a swindler-(etc.), NOT EVEN TO EAT with such a person (1Cor. 5:11 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

Granted, God accepts us “just as we are” and seals (marks for identification) us as a child of God (Eph.4: 30), the moment we are born again, forever securing the integrity of the unearned, undeserved, irrevocable, gift of eternal life.

But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t changes that He desires for us to make, as we advance in the post (after) salvation life of Biblical discipleship.

End of Part One