Once Christian left Mt. Sinai with fresh directions from Evangelist, he finally arrived at the Wicket Gate. Above the gate was written: “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Christian began to knock and said a prayer:
“May I now enter here? Will He within open to sorry me, though I have been an undeserving rebel? Then shall I not fail to sin His lasting praise on high.”
At last there came to the gate a man named Goodwill. Goodwill asked who was at the door, where he came from, and what he wanted. At once Christian told Goodwill his name, that he came from the City of Destruction, and that he desired deliverance from the wrath to come. Goodwill opened the door, and urgently pulled Christian within the gate. The reason that Goodwill grabbed and pulled Christian through the gate was due to the fact that arrows would be shot at those seeking refuge at the Wicket Gate from a tower built by Beelzebub.
Without delay Goodwill quizzed Christian about his family, his journey, and about those he had met along the way. Goodwill was not surprised that Christian’s family didn’t come with him, or that Obstinate didn’t change his mind, or that Pliable went a short distance only to turnaround and go back to the City of Destruction. Goodwill commented:
“Alas, poor man! Is the celestial glory of little esteem, that they consider it not worth running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it?”
Christian confessed that he wasn’t any better than the others. He subjected himself to the seducing words of Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and left the path only to find himself in a worse condition. Goodwill encouraged Christian that despite his deviation, that he would not be denied entrance (John 6:36).
Goodwill gave Christian instructions about the continued journey and its narrow path.
The Narrow Path
Goodwill told Christian, “Look before thee; do you see this narrow way? THAT is the way that you must go. It was laid out by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and His Apostles and it is as straight as a rule can make it. This is the way you must go.”
Christian asked if the path had any windings, or turnings, by which a traveler may lose his way. He had already been turned aside by Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and wanted to avoid being detoured again. Goodwill replied, “Yes, there are many ways presented, and they are crooked and wide. But you may distinguish the right from the wrong, for there is only one strait and narrow.”
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke about the gate and the narrow way:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 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” (Matthew 7:7–8,13-14).
The narrow way was the path that Christian was to continue traveling. Christian was to go to Mt. Zion, and there he would have his burden removed. Though Christian desired to travel without any hindrances, the narrow path wouldn’t be without its temptations. There would be crooked and wide paths in addition to the narrow path. But Christian needed to practice discernment and stay on the straight way. For it was the way paved by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and His Apostles (Eph. 2:19-22).
Like Christian, you must stay on the path. You will be presented many other paths that may look easier, or perhaps more promising. You will meet others like Mr. Worldly Wiseman who seek to entice and seduce (Matt. 7:15-16). But you must persevere on the straight and narrow path. The crooked and broad paths are populated with a lot more people, and it may look like the better option, but those ways lead to destruction.
The Arrows of Temptation
We should note Mr. Bunyan’s inclusion of Beelzebub’s arrows being shot at those seeking to enter the Wicket Gate. The devil shoots many arrows at those who are about to enter the gate of salvation. I’ve seen it happen a myriad of times. Read what Charles Spurgeon says of Beelzebub’s arrows:
“In this passage, Bunyan alludes to the fact that, when souls are just upon the verge of salvation, they are usually assailed by the most violent temptations.”
Spurgeon lists several types of arrows that hell may shoot at a soul just as they are converted:
- The fiery arrow of the remembrance of our sins.
- “It is too late for you to be saved.”
- “You have resisted the Holy Spirit; you have stifled conscience.”
- “You are not one of God’s elect, you were never chosen by God.”
- “You have committed the unpardonable sin.”
These types of thoughts, and many others like them, are arrows shot at many vulnerable souls. Beelzebub (the devil, satan) will do anything he can to stop a soul from being saved. I remember these same kind of thoughts when my life was being changed by the Holy Spirit. It was like I was trying to talk myself out of freedom and salvation.Thankfully there were some Goodwills in my life who snatched me from the entrance of the gate and pulled me in towards Christ.
Beloved, if you are at the Wicket Gate of salvation please hurry and come in. Jesus will not deny you entrance, and He will not cast you out.