“There’s a common misconception that the choice between Christ and false gods is the choice between desiring to go to hell and desiring to go to heaven. I’ve heard preachers say the narrow way is the way of Christianity that people choose when they want to go to heaven, and the broad way is the way people choose who are content to go to hell. But they are misinformed or confused. It is not a contrast between godliness and Christianity on the one hand and irreligious, lewd, lascivious pagan masses headed merrily for hell on the other. It is a contrast between two kinds of religions, both roads marked ‘This way to Heaven.’ Satan doesn’t put up a sign that says, ‘Hell–Exit Here.’ That’s not his style. People on the broad road think that road goes to heaven.”–John MacArthur, Hard to Believe, 78
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I can see an application of the narrow and broad way relating to heaven and hell. But as I get older, I see these ways applying more to this life and my spiritual journey. I can choose to walk the narrow way which brings God’s favor and abundant life. The broad way is going to result in discipline and destruction of life.
Actually, the dichotomy between the paths Jesus mentions isn’t heaven and hell, it’s life and destruction. I don’t think Jesus ever really presented anything like the idea that following Him was the way to to “get to heaven”.
phil’s corrective caveat aside, what john says is true in a lot of cases.