We begin a new paragraph topic in 5 parts: (Obstacles to virtue) Part 1.
Christ begins this sermon by telling us about the path to life. He gives us an illustration by telling us about a path and a gate. One path is wide and broad and another is narrow and close. Which will you choose? Will you choose the broad path that leads to destruction? Or will you choose the narrow path that leads to life? How do we know which path we are on?
Have you ever had to swim against a current, against a tide. It is not easy. It requires extra strength and effort. The current will take you along if you do not exert an extra effort to go against it. Christ is telling us here that it is easy to go along with the flow. It requires no effort to follow along the same path with everyone else. But to go a different route requires effort. To do what is not popular requires effort. It will separate you from the pack. It will bring criticism and ridicule your way. Going against the wide path of the world is not easy.
When we became Christians and accepted the way of the Lord, we put on a different set of rules and behaviors. Wherever we go, with whomever we meet, whatever we do, how we think, act, and behave should be different. When we reach adulthood, especially those that have gone the way of the world and have turned from it, we are able to make a decision about who we want to be and are then able to live by that decision.
For the young teenagers and young adults, it is not so easy a decision. There are many pressures that are exerted upon this group. Those pressures move them in a direction contrary to what Christ tells us not to do. Teenagers and young adults want to be accepted by their piers. They want to be liked and popular. They associate more with those of their age group and reject those who would direct them away from the forces that move them towards the ways of the world. Wide is the path to destruction.
Drugs, sex, money, fame, popularity, clothes, technology, and many other pressures are exerted upon this age group that the older generation did not experience. This is not to say that the older generation did not experience pressures. But those pressures are different today and they are more widespread today. With the advent of technology and the shrinking of the world, we are now exposed to a world view. Television is now in high definition where you can see the pours on the face of people. And following on the heels of HD is 3D. Pornography is rampant in our society. And sex is used to sell everything that we consume. So our children grow up exposed to concepts and ideas that are accepted as normal. The sanctity of the marriage contract, does not exist today. Divorce is accepted as a normal process of breaking up because everyone does it. The family structure is shattered by these beliefs and the children that are affected experience the pain of a broken marriage as an example of how they will live their lives in the future.
The road to destruction broadens everyday and though we may be aware of the change that is taking place, more and more of our society is accepting of the change. It becomes harder to swim against the current. Yet Christ tells us that the road to life is narrow. The way to life is close.
How do we get off the wide path and onto the narrow path? Christ has given us directions in these sermons from the mount. He has given us examples to follow that will put us on the right path. He has provided us with actions that we must take on a daily basis to change course. Harder it will be for those of the younger generation if we do not give them a foundation. It is up to those who believe, who follow the narrow path, to give structure to the younger generation. It is up to the older generation to engraph principles and beliefs upon the younger generation so that when they are faced with the world, hopefully they will rely on their internal compass to guide them through the wide path and bring them back to the narrow path.
The obstacles must be overcome and, with the help of the Holy Spirit coming into our lives, we will be able to overcome the temptations of the devil. By God's grace we will find ways to change our course and to live by the principles given us by Christ. It is not an easy task. It is a task that requires daily work. It is a task that we must not tire from. It is a task that contains our heavenly reward. It is a task that we will not allow Satan to steal from us.
The obstacles are many but by keeping the words of the Holy Scriptures and the Gospels before us, on a daily basis, we have the tools necessary to fight the battle. We have the tools to win the war. We have the tools to be successful in this worldly struggle, if we choose to us them. Get on the narrow path. Stay the course and win the prize of eternal life and peace with Christ.
