The Hard Road

"The Hard Road" – John 10:9 This road is not the easiest, nor the lightest, nor the most popular; but it is the one that has transformed our lives. Jesus is the door, and whoever enters by Him is saved, has liberty and finds pasture. Yet the gate is strait and the way is narrow: one must strive to enter, pass through much tribulation, suffer persecution for living godly, and learn to have peace in the midst of affliction. The narrow way hurts the flesh but saves the soul: it is not for the perfect but for the resolved; and heaven is not filled with comfortable crowds, but with surrendered hearts.

I. This road is not the easiest, but it is the one that has transformed our lives.

A. The day we came to the road is the day we were converted and the blood of Christ washed us.

1. Step aside and let it be Him; then our days will be better and we will please the Lord more.

2. Nothing hard in life can separate us from so great a love.

3. The road is hard for everyone: God shows no favoritism; not even Paul escaped prison and stripes.

B. Nothing can be done in life without prayer: everything must be taken to God.

II. The road to eternal life is neither the easiest nor the most popular.

A. We have an enemy, and he is rebuked with authority in the name of Jesus.

1. Speaking of the Lord is not popular; the world sets you aside as “religious.”

2. Trials are not the fault of conversion: the body is mortal, it complains and laments.

3. Be grateful: hitherto God has helped you through them all, though you have forgotten.

B. It is not the broad way but a narrow one that scrapes, because the Holy Spirit convicts.

1. It leads us to repent, ask forgiveness, submit to God and learn the Scriptures.

2. It requires decision, commitment and obedience; however hard, one must stay on it.

3. Everything in life is hard; most people choose the road of perdition.

C. God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

1. No one destroys you: one destroys oneself by letting the flesh speak and lead.

2. Choose the hard road: it makes warriors who do not hide, and it makes us meek and humble.

III. I am the door (John 10:9).

A. Jesus does not say “a door”: He says “I am the door”; Jesus Himself leads to eternal life.

1. He is the only access to salvation: whoever enters by Him shall be saved.

2. Knowing that God chose us is called election: called, chosen and sealed by the Spirit.

B. “Shall go in and out”: liberty, not slavery.

1. The believer lives confident, without fear, and cannot be enslaved to people.

2. “And find pasture”: provision, food and rest.

3. This is not a church matter: it is between you and God; the road is for the brave.

IV. Strait is the gate and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:14).

A. Music reaches the soul, but the Word pierces and transforms; not reading it is cowardice.

1. The kingdom of heaven is not for cowards but for the valiant and the bold.

2. Either we are saved or we are condemned: there is no middle ground.

B. The narrow way requires faith, obedience and perseverance.

1. We must keep the same quality as on the day of conversion and keep being perfected.

2. Each one must fight alone; life is a war and there is no room for softness.

3. Teaching children the hard road makes them warriors and people of integrity; the upright overcome.

C. Many admire the right road, but few dare to walk it.

1. The problem is not that the road is hard, but that many will not let go of what keeps them out.

2. The narrow way hurts the flesh but saves the soul; it is not for the perfect but for the resolved.

3. Heaven is not filled with comfortable crowds, but with fully surrendered hearts.

V. Strive to enter in at the strait gate (Luke 13:24).

A. Wanting to enter is not enough: one must decide to enter while the door is open.

1. Adam and Eve took the easy way and the whole earth fell under evil; Christ went to the cross to redeem us.

2. A church is sustained by God, so that the Gospel is preached unto salvation.

B. Salvation is by grace, but Jesus stresses the effort of seeking, responding and persevering.

1. It is not passivity but active decision; “I am already saved” is the language of sects.

2. Those who fell into sects chose the easy road and lent an ear to false teaching.

3. The Gospel is never softened: Paul's letters must remain intact.

C. Many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

1. People who want in, but too late or without true surrender; trying is not enough.

2. One must surrender in time: the door closes, the heart hardens, and it is God who seals it.

VI. Through much tribulation (Acts 14:22).

A. Tribulations must be endured; with time they are forgotten.

1. To confirm is to strengthen and give firmness: faith is affirmed in the midst of trials.

2. Continuing in the faith is not only beginning: it is standing firm.

B. Tribulations are not optional: they are part of the road to the kingdom.

1. God allowed no one an easy road, but promised to be with us: He is the way.

2. Trials are not the end of the road: they are the process that polishes and draws out what is in us.

3. The meek inherit the kingdom and empathy with others; for the proud it is impossible.

VII. All that will live godly shall suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).

A. Not for a few: it is a reality for every genuine believer.

1. Persecution comes from identifying with Him; it is not an option, it is a promise.

2. If there is no opposition, perhaps Christ is not being reflected enough.

3. The point is not to negotiate: the point is to be a believer twenty-four hours a day.

VIII. In me ye might have peace; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

A. Peace does not come when all is well; it comes when Christ is present.

1. True peace is not in circumstances: it is in Christ.

2. Jesus does not hide reality: there will be tribulation, and tribulation schools our pride.

3. To trust is a decision of faith, not a feeling; put away the bitterness.

B. The victory is already secured: we do not fight to win, we fight from victory.

1. We do not fight for the ego; whatever we face, we are already acquiring victory.

2. The righteous have learned to walk the hard road.