This is one of the saddest truths in the Bible. Jesus spoke this truth in His Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)
¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴ For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Relatively speaking, just a few are going to make it to heaven. Why is the gate that leads to destruction so wide? There are actually many reasons for this. Jesus gives us one. The way that leads to destruction is easy. Most people like to take the easy road in life, while doing everything possible to avoid the hard route. This makes sense physically, but spiritually it is disastrous be-cause it is on the hard road that we are strengthened.

David once said, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). Peter, Paul, and James all wrote about the value of difficulties in life (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). Even Jesus spoke of the blessedness of being persecuted (Matthew 5:10-12). When life gets too easy, it might be a sign that we are going down the wrong road.

Another reason the way to destruction is so populated is that many people are not interested in the Bible. The Bible is where we learn the will of God. It teaches us how to live so that we can please God and go to heaven.

Titus 2:11-12 (NKJV)
¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

Without making the Word of God an important part of one’s life, it is impossible to stay on the hard and narrow road that leads to life. In fact, without God’s Word, a person will probably never start down the right path in the first place. The lesson we learn from this is how important it is to read and study the Bible. Let the word of Christ dwell in you (Colossians 3:16), and it will lead you to eternal life.

Of course, the damage done by false teachers cannot be ignored. Many people are on the wrong road because they follow the doctrines of men rather than the Word of God (Matthew 15:7-9). Numerous preachers and teachers teach that baptism is not necessary. This keeps people out of Christ where salvation is found (2 Timothy 2:10). Baptism is the final step of God’s plan of salvation, at least so far as obeying the gospel is concerned. It puts one into Christ (Galatians 3:27). All those who refuse to be baptized because of the influence of a false teacher, will die on the road that leads to destruction.

There is no doubt that the way to life is sometimes hard. There are commands that must be kept and instructions that must be followed. There are stumbling blocks that the devil casts in our way as he seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). There are trials and tribulations which we must endure in order to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Most people will choose to avoid this way and be lost. It is the sad truth, but the question is, will it be true about you?

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.