Martin Howard
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14
Years ago, I wrote an article regarding this passage from Matthew 7. I titled it, “Are you on the Highway to Hell or the Stairway to Heaven?”
For those who listen to “classic rock,” or are old enough to remember when it was just rock music, consider the songs Highway to Hell and Stairway to Heaven. The two titles paint beautiful word pictures for the illustration Jesus explains in Matthew 7.
Highway to Hell. A highway is usually wide with multiple vehicles traveling on it. And vehicles full of passengers are typically traveling fast. Additionally, most of the people in the vehicles are merely along for the ride. It’s really only the driver who’s doing anything. And that’s merely keeping the vehicle between the lines. With the invention of self-driving vehicles, it won’t be long before they won’t even be doing that. In reality, the cruise control is doing more than they are.
Stairway to Heaven. Unlike an elevator or escalator, a staircase requires effort to traverse it. A person isn’t merely standing there as they are elevated to the next floor. No, the individual must exert effort with each step to traverse upward. Each step requires intentionality and effort. Therefore, greater effort is required the higher you want to go.
This methodology was combined with my coaching program to create the lyrics for the song “I was built for this climb.”
If you haven’t done so yet, click here to give it a listen. And consider what I wrote above and what Jesus said in Matthew 7 as you listen to the words. Enjoy!
