Seeking Heaven: Choosing the Path of Life
The journey toward heaven is often described in Scripture as a deliberate choice between two paths—one that is wide and easy but leads to destruction, and another that is narrow and difficult but leads to eternal life. In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus teaches, “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. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” This profound teaching challenges believers to reflect on their lives, their priorities, and their ultimate destination.
The Call to Costly Grace
Bonhoeffer, in The Cost of Discipleship, contrasts “cheap grace” with “costly grace.” Cheap grace, he argues, is the wide path—a grace that justifies sin rather than the sinner, requiring no repentance, no transformation, and no real commitment to Christ. He writes, “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession… grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” This type of grace may seem appealing because it demands little, but it ultimately leads to destruction.
In contrast, costly grace is the narrow gate. Bonhoeffer describes it as, “costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.” This grace is costly because it demands the surrender of self-will, a willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ, and a lifelong commitment to live in obedience to Him. Yet, it is also grace because it opens the way to true life and fellowship with God.
The Challenge of Discipleship
Choosing the narrow path is not without its challenges. In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus encounters three individuals who express a desire to follow Him. However, each encounter reveals the cost of true discipleship:
1. The first person declares, “I will follow you wherever you go” (v. 57), to which Jesus responds, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (v. 58). Jesus emphasizes that following Him requires a willingness to forsake earthly comforts.
2. The second person hesitates, saying, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father” (v. 59). Jesus replies, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God” (v. 60). This response illustrates the urgency of the gospel and the need to prioritize God’s kingdom above cultural and familial obligations.
3. The third individual says, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home” (v. 61). Jesus responds, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (v. 62). Here, Jesus underscores the importance of unwavering commitment and focus in the life of a disciple.
These encounters demonstrate that the narrow path is not a part-time commitment. It demands complete surrender and a willingness to place Jesus above all else.
Few Will Find It
The rarity of true discipleship is echoed throughout Scripture and emphasized in Bonhoeffer’s writing. He acknowledges that the way of Christ is lonely, as it often requires believers to stand apart from societal norms and expectations. In Matthew 22:14, Jesus says, “For many are called, but few are chosen,” underscoring the reality that not all who hear the call of Christ respond with the full commitment required to walk the narrow path.
Bonhoeffer connects this truth to the idea of community among the few faithful. He writes, “The church is the church only when it exists for others… not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live for Christ, to exist for others.” The narrow path, though challenging, is walked in fellowship with other believers who support and encourage one another in faith.
The Reward of Costly Grace
While the cost of discipleship is great, Bonhoeffer reminds us of the immeasurable reward of following Christ. Revelation 3:5 promises, “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.” Bonhoeffer echoes this assurance, emphasizing that true discipleship leads to life with God, both now and in eternity. He writes, “Costly grace is the sanctuary of God; it has to be protected from the world and not thrown to the dogs. It is grace because it gives us the strength to live for God.”
The reward of seeking heaven is not just eternal life but also the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” For Bonhoeffer, this abundant life is marked by freedom—not freedom to live as we please, but freedom from sin and the power to live in obedience to God.
Encouragement for the Journey
Though the narrow path is difficult, believers are not left without guidance or encouragement. Hebrews 12:1-2 exhorts, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” Bonhoeffer points to the cross as the ultimate source of strength and inspiration. He writes, “The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world.”
This abandonment, however, is not without purpose. Bonhoeffer assures us that the cross is a symbol of hope, not despair, for it points to the resurrection and the promise of new life in Christ. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we find the courage to persevere through trials and remain faithful to the call of discipleship.
Conclusion
The call to seek heaven is a call to costly grace—a grace that demands everything but offers everything in return. The wide and easy path may seem appealing, but it leads to destruction. The narrow path, though challenging, leads to eternal life and communion with God. As Bonhoeffer writes, “The way is unutterably hard, but if we try to evade the cross, we shall find only a harder path, a path without Christ.”
The encounters in Luke 9:57-62 remind us that following Jesus is a radical commitment that requires putting Him above comfort, cultural expectations, and divided priorities. Ultimately, seeking heaven requires faith, sacrifice, and reliance on God’s strength. It is a journey that transforms us, drawing us closer to Christ and preparing us for the eternal joy of His presence. As we strive to enter through the narrow gate, may we embrace the costly grace that calls us to follow Jesus and trust in His promise: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
The Lively Blog of Thoughts 