THE WAY

Text: Isa. 35:8.

INTRODUCTION:

There are many ways which lead through life, and man, in his stubborn pride, wants to find his own way.

God has provided the way in which man should walk. Isa.30:21.

One of the significant designations of Christianity is "The Way." Jn. 14:4-6; Acts 9:2; 19:9,23.

PROPOSITION: Consider the characteristics of the way that leads home.

I. IT IS AN OLD WAY.

1. The promise of The Way is as old as sin. Gen. 3:15.

2. The Way is as old as Calvary. Heb. 10:19-20.

3. It is the way our fathers trod.

II. IT IS A PLAIN WAY.

1. It has beaten a deep path in the history of mankind.

2. It is so plain that no one need miss it. Isa. 35:8.

III. IT IS A NARROW WAY. Matt. 7:13-14.

1. In being narrow, it admits few.

2. In being narrow, entrance requirements are fixed.

3. In being narrow, much must be left outside.

IV. IT IS A BROAD WAY.

1. It is a way that is open to all. This way knows no race or class distinction. Acts 10:34.

2. There is room for you in The Way. ~

V. IT IS A SAFE WAY.

1. The way of the world is not a safe way.

2. There is safety first-and last-in Christ!

VI. IT IS THE ONLY WAY.

1. The lost man is sure he is right. Prov. 14:12.

2. There is only one way that leads home. Jn. 14:6.

CONCLUSION:

There are but two ways of life.

Which way will you choose? Jer. 21:8.

The way of the cross leads home.

The Two Ways

Harold Bell Wright's beautiful old story, "Shepherd of the Hills," opens and closes with a picture of the two ways. A

road wends its way about a mountain side. As you travel this road you come suddenly to a parting of the ways-Here

is a broad, smooth road, which turns down toward the valley: it is easy to travel; many journey this way, but it leads

ever downward to the valley of shadow, and there is no turning back when you reach the end of this road.

The other way is steep and narrow; it is not so easy to travel; there are not so many who journey this way, but it

leads ever upward to the sunlight and the beauty of the home on the mountain top.

Jesus said it this way: "Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to

destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto

life, and few are they that find if' (Matt. 7:13-14).

To every man there openeth

A Way, and Ways, and a Way.

And the Low Soul gropes the Low,

And in between, on the misty flats,

The rest drift to and fro.

But to every man there openeth

A High Way, and a Low.

And every man decideth

The way his soul shall go.

-JOHN OXENHAM