God’s residential address is in the eternity and this is what and whom he is — the everlasting Father, the eternal God and the Ancient of Days with whom there is no beginning of days, neither the end of time. He is the God from everlasting to everlasting, the God without an end, freed from succession of time. As of man whom he has created, his days are determined, the number of his months are with God and he has appointed hid bounds that he cannot pass to be ushered into eternity– into his long home (then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Ecclesiastes 12:5 NIV) Isaiah 57:15.
There are two entrances into eternity and there are two different places where the Ancient of Days has prepared in eternity for eternity — one good and glorious abode and final resting place of the righteous overcomers; and the other, so awful and unbearable which is the final incarceration of the wicked and the unbelieving souls. Man is destined to spend his eternity in either of them according to the Lord’s own word as he challenges us to singleness of heart and purpose in our pursuit of God, godliness and heaven, to make sure that we make it there by necessitating ourselves to sacrifice and to do away with or give up to whatsoever there is to loose in our personal life that may be hindering us such as besetting sin or any weight laying us down…cut if off from you, says the Lord, if it be your right hand or leg or eye that will offend you and cause you not to make heaven: it is better for you to enter heaven with one eye or leg or hand, than for the whole body to be cast into the lake of fire. Eternity is to be spent in the heavens of glory if we are righteous in our walk with God till death; or, in hell of torment, if we are a sinner of God’s people, turning the grace of God unto lasciviousness (Amos 9:10) or if we lived unconverted and unrepentant as sinner on earth till death: just as Jesus gave the illustration in the continuation and consciousness of life after death in the story of the rich man and Lazarus: when the latter died, the angels carried him to the bosom of Abraham; and, the former at death, found himself in hell and in agony in the suffering of eternal vengeance. Note: their final lot at death was not determined by any worldly possession, position or stature, but by their individual’s walk and stand with God before death. It could have turned better for the rich man after death, if he had not been high-​minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, by doing good works, generous to the poor, laying up in store for himself a good foundation against the time to come, that he might lay hold on eternal life. Likewise could it have turned sour for Lazarus at death if he had not served and walked with God on earth — for this cause was the gospel preached also to them are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 1 Peter 4:1 – 6.
It is not an easy road to heaven and the reason the Lord warned each and every one to strive to enter in through the straight gate. Truth should be contended against error and those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. Personal efforts should be made, based on individual seriousness and perception of the worth of his salvation in his daily walk and conducts before God. The two road that leads or brings to heaven is not a road for the outsiders that is un– regenerate. It is not the road for the uncircumcision in heart whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life slain before the foundation of the world. These two roads are not for those which are not yet in the kingdom of God, but those who are already in the Lord and are born again of water and Spirit baptism, looking and hasting for the great day of the Lord and the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ unto his eternal kingdom and glory. These two roads, the wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction which many are taking ignorantly or by self-​willed; and the straight gate and the narrow way which only few are carefully and circumspectly taking while serving God in Christ Jesus acceptably in reverence and godly fear are the characters, attitudes and the ways of life which individual is portraying in their relationship with God and in their pious lifestyles by taking heed or not to themselves and the gospel to save themselves and them that are looking at them as example. 1 Timothy 4:16.
Obviously, the former lifestyle which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts should be put off while the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness should be put on. None can board a flight to hell and hope to get himself landed in heaven. This was the statement of Jesus. Live the right lifestyles which shall land you in heaven as a born again Christian or live the wrong lifestyles which will ultimately land you in hell, even though you may be born again — there is a way which seems good in man’s sight, but the end is destruction. The way of sinner is hard because they’ve chosen a new and not the good old road where they can find rest for their souls. It is confusing and self-​disillusion to be a Christian by outward appearances and other physical or external convictions or claims, but yet remained in the dark and consequences of the conveniences and the destruction of the broad way and the wide gate which ends in destruction but still heading towards the same direction. None shall live and act and fulfil the lusts of the devil on earth and hope to spend eternity with God in heaven. Those that will spend eternity with him in heaven shall live a heavenly and a transformational life on earth ever before they passed on to eternity.
We are in the last days and in perilous times. The Lord recommended that he that is filthy should cease to be filthy, not to continue in his filthiness, because the reward of a filthy lifestyle is the suffering of eternal vengeance on them that know not God and that obeyed not his gospel: while he that is righteous should still be righteous as he hold on to his righteous ways and be made stronger each day against the contamination of the last days and the destruction of the broad ways. Though we are to expect the tares among the wheat, the good seed among the bad, children of Satan mingling with the children of God as they are fulfilling the pleasures and the will of Devil in the churches by causing offences and being stumbling blocks by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of; yet, we should be very careful and to distance ourselves from those who are not walking uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, lest a little leaven leavens the whole lumps. They are in the church but are never changed. They are born again in word and not in deed and are not serving God in the spirit and truth, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. The word and the Spirit of life has not wrought any transformation and regeneration in them and the in-​corruptible seed which has begotten them into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is not bringing any fruit worthy of repentance as they chose to serve God in their own ways — adamant heart. They are the un-​converted believers: and, though they are in Christ, old things has not passed away and everything remains as they were in the past in their lives. There is no trace or proof of washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost in them. They have known the way of righteousness and had turned back from the holy commandments delivered unto them and it has happened to them according to the old proverbs, the dog has gone back to his vomits, and the pig to her wallowing in the mire. They are termed and labelled as cursed children which has forsaken the right way because of their covetousness for money which the Lord abhors and have gone into the wrong way of Balaam the son of Bosor, whose love for riches and honour turned him out of the way of integrity and uprightness of life to give an ungodly and sinful counsel to King Balak who snared the children of Israel by the seductive daughters of Moab to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols. These are they that are building the things once destroyed-​the body of sin (Galatian 2:18: Romans 6:6) by sowing to the flesh and walking in the flesh in their spiritual life. They are the carnal and worldly Christians, the broad way travellers and the wide gate seekers. It is no marvel that there is no more condemnation but a final glorification awaiting them which are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking in the flesh, but in the Spirit, because the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made them freed indeed from the law of sin and death. The law of sin and death is the fulfilment of the desires of the mind and the lusts of the flesh which profits nothing. God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sow, that shall he also reap: to sow to the flesh is to reap corruption — suffering the punishment of eternal vengeance (second death): but they that are Christ are expected to crucify the affections of the flesh and its lusts, to live and walk daily in the spirit. They should strive daily not to live in the old life any longer by mortifying their members which are upon the earth with the presence of the Spirit of God indwelling them as they put on the new man in the renewal of the spirit of their minds by walking in the newness of life through the help and power of the Spirit of God by cultivating the fruit of the Spirit instead of the work of the flesh. Galatians 5: 15 – 23.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves (self-​love and self –centeredness and selfishness will increase and men shall seek their own interest and profits more than the things of God or of other’s interest’s by loving their carnal selves better than their spiritual selves and like Hophni and Phinehas, they shall prefer their own gratification before the Lord’s pleasure and glory) covetous (selfishness is the by-​product of covetousness which is idolatry – the insatiable cravings for what is not meant for them to have but lusted and warred for it to have it by whatever cost or means) boasters (we are in such a period that most of the testimonies we are pretending to give to God’s glory in our churches today are not to his glory alone, but are to show and boast of our worth and values before men) proud (when you see a boaster, what further need is there to condemn such of pride as they walked in the former and clothed themselves with the latter) blasphemers (we are in a world of freedom of expression where men are falling into the traps of idle words to anyone they just feels like lashing out bitter words wrongly to and are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries both in the church against the men of God and in the society against the civil leaders and authorities or rulers of their people) disobedient to parents (today, rebellious spirit is evidently operative in our societies as parents are limited and restricted by the law against rigid and sound discipline of their children and as the children themselves seek more liberty and freedom from their parents before the age of eighteen, while some will even go to the extent of calling the police or reporting their parents to the social workers in the civilized world to victimize them or just walked away from the house to wherever they see or want because they want to someone to tell them what to do) unthankful (when men rewarded evil in return for good, they become unthankful and when they don’t know how to sincerely say thank you for any little thing but are even challenging and rebuking that you have not done enough comparable to what they think you have or should have done, causing or giving you problem with the help you have rendered to them) unholy (are we not living in a generation that is pure in their own sight, yet they are not washed from their filthiness? Are we not stricken with the increasing rate of sexual promiscuity and all uncleanness in the churches both from the leaders and their followers, while the unchurched will be delighted to say, I am even better than them, though I’m not a church goer) without natural affection (cruel and cold-​hearted, hated and hating one another) trucebreakers ( they failed promises and agreement and there is no integrity nor faithfulness in their words) false accusers (slanderers, image and personality destroyers) incontinent ( lack of self –control) ) fierce (physically aggressive and intolerance) despisers of those that are good (opposes and haters of good men) traitors (betrayers in our churches –brethren betraying brethren’s love and trust) heady (stubborn and self– willed) high-​minded (proud and self– conceited) lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (worldly and sensual which cannot endure the presence and worship of God but can last and endure longer in parties and other festivities — Lord, I have loved the habitation of thine house and the place where your honour dwells. Gather not my soul with sinners and with bloody men. In whose hands is mischiefs and their right hands full of bribes. Psalms 26:8 – 10) having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3: 1 – 3.
The wide gate believers and broad way travellers are simple, but not according to the simplicity that in Christ Jesus. Their foolish simplicity is the testimony of their own unpreparedness and lack of total commitments and devotion to God’s word as they allowed themselves to be carried about and away by every winds of doctrine. They are in the congregation of the itching ears believers that has little or no interest for sound doctrine and undiluted word of God, under the tutors and spiritual guides that delivers just what they love and want to hear and not what the Lord want them to hear, know and do– they are the brethren that fights against the true preachers and sometimes says, Christ has not come with religion and laws of don’t do this or that and no one has to tell them how to live, dress or whatever. The scriptures cannot be broken and many are cleaving to them (clergies) with flatter and following their pernicious ways (broad way and wide gate preachers and believers) and through covetousness are they with feigned words making merchandise of the simple: whose judgement now of a long time lingered not, and their damnation slumbered not. They prevaricates, dissembles and would lead others into by-​paths and side-​ways, that they may have opportunity to make a gain or prey of them, or (as Apostle Peter analyses it) to make merchandize of them.2 Peter 2:1 – 15.
Preachers should preach like ‘no man ever spoke like this’ as God put them in trust with the gospel, not as pleasing men but God; and not for a cloak of covetousness, nor for the admiration and approval of men (Now I beseech you, brethren, mark those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. For such as they serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:17 – 18) and believers should live like it is written of the early Christians, And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. Acts 5:13. John 7:46.
God delights in the prosperity of his servants and all his children. It is his will and desire to supply all their need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Though the way of godliness or serving and walking with God is not primarily to make money, none should be motivated or deceived to use or see religious services to do so; still yet will the Lord command his blessings upon his servants and his people and his cities through prosperity shall be spread abroad: but the broad way and wide gate seekers and ministers tends to capitalized on making personal riches and wealth by all possible means while walking after the Lord and thus they become perverse men and women of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness while they measured your worth and progress in the Lord by material and financial accumulations, affluent and display. They are like Simeon the sorcery that would do anything for power or give money for it to get back as much dividends as possible for what has been deposited or invested into….If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6: 3 – 10.
The straight gate and narrow way is the way of the Lord and it is strength to the upright. They shall gladly bear the easy yoke and light burden which the Lord has laid upon them as they walk after him by working out their salvation with fear and trembling. Proverbs 10:29. There are various challenges and many difficulties on the straight gate and the narrow way, but the uprightness of life of those travelling through this path is the confidence, power and secret of their endurance, resistance and triumph –he that walks uprightly walks surely, but he that is perverse in his ways shall be known. Proverbs 10:9.
Their heart is kept with all diligent, forward mouth and perverse lips are far from them and their words shall be of the uprightness of their heart and their lips shall utter knowledge clearly. They focus, look and walk straight before them and they think deeply and enquire diligently before they make a move to establish all their ways and actions by the authority of the written word — never to the right or to the left, but straight way on. This is their fear of the Lord, they are not perverse, neither are they of double heart in their ways. It is this understanding that brings them into the favour of the Lord in their upright walk; for the Lord is a sum and shield, he will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walks uprightly. Yet, if they are poor according to the world standard and view, they are not ashamed and are so rich in faith and in their expectation and consciousness that the Lord knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever — that they have a great substance of inheritance in heaven — better is the poor that walks in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. Proverbs 28:6 and10. Psalms 37:18: 84:11. Micah 2:7.
The upright God loves the upright and he has broken the bands of their yokes to make them go upright and to them will the Lord shows himself upright. He has great pleasure in the uprightness of life and he will not be ashamed to boast of any of his upright children before the Devil as he did in the favour of Job. They shall be and stand like Prophet Micah before King Ahab in the time of great deceit and falsehood: and shall remained, if needs be, the only true prophet and preacher of righteousness among thousands of false teachers, apostles and deceitful workers. Whatever the Lord speak is their message, they shall not add to the word or remove anything from it, not calling bitter for sweet and evil for good to have the admiration of man for any advantage. They are ready for the persecution of the godly because their Master has once been persecuted for righteousness sake and they shall endure imprisonment, hardness, false accusations and whatever humiliation for righteousness sake and shall not be offended with the awareness that if the green tree has once been cut off, how much more the dry one! Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worst and worst, deceiving and been deceived. Proverbs 11:20. 1 Kings 22: 19 – 27. Matthew 5:10 – 12. 10: 23 – 25. John 15:18 – 21. 2 Timothy 3:12 – 13.
The narrow way and the straight gate travellers are hardy and remain faithful to the Lord in season and out of season; even when they are hated and ridiculed by the broad way and wide gate seekers for their great reverence and trembling to every word of God. They will endure contradictions of sinners against themselves and shall not be wearied in their hearts. They can run with footmen and contend with horses and are never afraid of the swelling of Jordan. If they are betrayed by one of their own, they are not weary nor discouraged to continue in the old way and gate which is narrow and straight…hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast out you out for my name’s sake, said, let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. Jeremiah 12:5. Hebrews 12:1 – 4. Isaiah 66: 5.
Only let your conversation (ways of life and manners of living, mode of dressing, social association etc. Philippians 1:27 – 29) be as it becomes the gospel of Christ – this is the banner and songs of the straight gate seekers and narrow way travellers as they strive daily to live the gospel life. They can be called by any kinds of name by the mockers, the carnal and worldly brethren and unbelieving (fundamentalist, over-​zealous, holier than thou, hypocrites) but shall not be moved. They are not ready to compromise, neither to sell the truth of the gospel for any price, praise and approval of men whatsoever because their reward, praises and commendation is from God. Christ, and not the world is gloried and magnified in their body and they are not ashamed to bear his mark for all to see. Each day, they deny themselves to carry their cross as they press toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus to enter in through the straight gate and would not fashion themselves according to the former lusts in their past life of ignorance. Holiness to the Lord in the body, soul and spirit is their watchword and highway as they earnestly seek to cleanse themselves from all the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God that they might be made holy in all manner of conversation, as he which has called them is holy — they shall be saved and shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. Isaiah 57:2. 2 Corinthians 7: 1. 1 Peter 1:14 – 17.
Their religion is pure before the Father and they shall keep themselves unspotted with the world. They are not conform in any way possible or thinkable with the world and are totally different in everything they do, the way they speak, the manner of dressing and adornments, the places they go, the music they heard, the motions they watched on television etc. They have received the true grace of God and are standing firmly on it, abiding daily in the lessons of that great teacher (the grace of God) that is teaching us denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously and godly (not in the form of it, but in practicality and in the fruits and power of its life’s transformation) in this present world; having received the power that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called them to glory and virtue and has escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. They have given all diligence to add virtue to their faith, knowledge to virtue, temperance to knowledge, patience to temperance, godliness to patience, brotherly-​kindness to godliness and charity to brotherly kindness. They are making all diligence to make their calling and election sure and so an entrance shall be ministered unto them abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Proverbs 28:18. Titus 2:11 – 12. James 1:27.