Why the Way to Heaven is Difficult

We live in a time when people think that getting to heaven is very easy. But Jesus said that the way is difficult. Some think it is as simple as saying a sinner’s prayer or going to church and serving God only. The more presumptuous ones believe that being a good person and following any spiritual or religious path will do. But this could not be further from the truth. Jesus said:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

The way is difficult, and the gate is narrow

Jesus Christ made it extremely clear that the road that leads to life is difficult, and the gate narrow. He said that few find this way. However, as he said, the way that leads to destruction is broad and the gate wide, and many follow it. Isn’t it just always this way? What is easy is the most popular, and attracts crowds. It is no different when it comes to eternal matters of life and death. Human beings are that predictable and sadly foolish. Crowds seem safe, but sadly, it is quite the opposite in actuality.

“Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.”

Luke 13:23-27

Let’s look at a few reasons why the way to heaven is difficult and few find it, and why Jesus says we should strive to enter through that narrow gate:

1. The way is difficult because it is exclusive

Jesus is the ONLY begotten son of God. He came to earth 2000 years ago proclaiming “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” John 10:9. Jesus could not have made it any more exclusive. He is that narrow door that leads to eternal life and to heaven. There are no back doors and no side doors. And he is the way to heaven.

This truth alone makes this way difficult for many and they choose the broad way instead. The broad or wide way claims that there are many ways to get to God and to heaven. But this way is false. It may have the larger crowd, but it is false, and its claims are false. The Father has provided only one way to eternal life and that is salvation through Jesus.

2. The way is difficult because it requires doing the will of God- Obedience

The way to heaven is one of obedience to Jesus and his commandments. It is not enough to just claim to be his followers; we must prove it with our works. Jesus said, “You shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).

We prove that we belong to Jesus and love him if we obey his commandments. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15

He also gave the following strong words of warning proving that simply calling him “Lord!” or serving him is not enough:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Matthew 7:21-23

To obey Jesus is to do the will of God

When we obey Jesus, we are doing the will of God. Our lives will then bear the fruit of righteousness and holiness. This is not an easy thing for those who still want to have their cake and eat it too. And for them, it is a difficult path. This way of obedience is for those who truly have given their all to Jesus fully.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46

3. The way is difficult because it requires holiness

The Bible tells us that, “without holiness, no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14), and “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

The standards of God are high because he is a Holy God. But we can only meet his standards through Jesus. When we believe in Jesus as our savior, his life becomes ours, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us, empowering us to live a holy life.

Holiness is a requirement to enter heaven. But this is not a standard that most humans are willing to keep. Many still want to keep their sin and keep Jesus too, and this cannot be. Jesus warns us that if we live like that, he will tell us “I never knew you“. Without holiness, we cannot see God. If we are lukewarm and want to have it both ways, Jesus says he will vomit us out of his mouth. It is all or nothing to make it to heaven.

“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

Revelations 3:16

To be holy is to be without sin and blameless. This is a way of living that requires absolute surrender to God. To always be conscious of ourselves and live in a state of repentance and humility before God. It does not mean we will never sin, but when we do we will repent and allow the blood of Jesus to wash us. Furthermore, we will hate sin and will not sin deliberately, but will make every effort to flee and overcome sin.

Apostle John says:

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

1 John 3:8-10

4. The way is difficult because it requires dying to self

The path to heaven is one of self-denial. We no longer live to please ourselves and our fleshly desires, but we live for Jesus. And if we live for him and in him, then where he is we shall be also. Heaven is a place for his true disciples and not for those who live to please themselves.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Matthew 16:24-26

Apostle Paul said it perfectly:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

In accepting Jesus’s salvation, we accept his righteous life in place of our old sinful life. We can no longer serve two masters, that is live the old life and the new life at the same time. The old man must die for the new man who is like Christ to live. And that new man is made in the image of God in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4;24)

In Conclusion

When Jesus said the way to heaven is difficult and the gate narrow and few find it, he meant it. He asked as to strive to enter through that narrow gate because it is not easy. He said many will seek to enter and will not be able because it will cost us. But he also promises that he is with us always if we abide in him. If we follow him and obey him, then we are his sheep. And he will be with us, guide us, and keep us until we make it home.

This is his assurance to his sheep:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

John 10:27-28

Amen! May we be found in him in the end!

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