Enter By The Narrow Gate

by Jan Smith

When you enter by the narrow gate, the way is hard — but it leads to eternal life!

enter by the narrow gate

Here is the entire Scripture passage:

13 “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. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14)

I had this friend named John…

John and I were chatting in the church fellowship hall, following the service. One of the Bible passages that day contained the above quote from the Gospel of Matthew.

I said to John, “So John, are you on the wide path or the narrow path?

John blinked with astonishment and bewilderment. “Oh”, he exclaimed, “I didn’t think that applied to ME!”

I said to him, “John, everything in the Bible applies to you!”

One thing John was really good at was dodging bullets so as to make himself look good. Watch how he was able to claim victory while conceding that something was missing:

In a marvelous demonstration of human ability to rationalize away truth that might be too painful, John’s face brightened as he proudly proclaimed with a laugh, “I’m on the narrow path… but my path is a little wider that it should be! Ha Ha Ha!”

Clearly John was not taking the Bible seriously. BUT… he went to church every Sunday!

There’s A Name For That:

Spiritual Apathy

Another example!

Columnist Barry Goldman began an editorial for the Los Angeles Times with this anecdote.

I once asked my Aunt Mary what her beliefs were on the subject of life after death. She said: “Whatever Jews believe, that’s what I believe.” Aunt Mary’s view was that there were people whose job it was to consider such things. She was not such a person herself, but she was confident that the guys assigned that task were doing their job, and it was all written down in a book somewhere. If you were sufficiently interested, you could look it up.

And thus, Aunt Mary gave herself permission to do nothing; to know nothing; to wrap herself in a false security that merely identifying with (in her case) the Jews would result in salvation.

This is important because:

The Ultimate Question For Each Person Is:
Are you going to heaven or to hell?
Another example:

enter by the narrow gate

Here is the entire Scripture passage:

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3~4)

One More?

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

The Bible continually sorts people into those two groups. So, if your lifestyle is very much the same as that of the society around you—if you’ve kept God out of His rightful first place in your life—take heed: you may be in the wrong group!

Of the entire earth’s population at the time of the flood, only Noah and his family survived. Two million fled Egypt in the Exodus, but only two—Joshua and Caleb—entered the promised land. They faced incredible opposition and challenges— “The way is hard that leads to life”—but they believed, and heeded the Word of God.

Are you facing opposition in your service as a follower of Jesus? BE STRONG IN THE LORD! You’re on the narrow path!

Here’s what’s happening in the background:

Just as opposition arose against them, it will come against you as you begin to be strong in the Lord. The forces of hell do not want you to rise above the easy-chair religion that many churches promote.

Satan and his demons will attack you or those close to you. Satan may turn loved ones against you — anything to distract, destroy, or otherwise disrupt your progress for the kingdom of God.

So, why would you choose to become such a target?

Only one reason:

Jesus calls you to enlist in His army. He has gifted you with unique skills, abilities, talents, and opportunities. He has a plan for you, uniquely designed for your life. You’re here to fulfill God’s plan. Trust Him!

Here’s God’s desire for each one of us:

Note the underlined text:

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Bottom line: “Enter By The Narrow Gate!”

PRAYER:“Heavenly Father, even though it’s hard, I want to “enter by the narrow gate”. I want to respond as Isaiah did when he heard You ask, ‘Whom shall I send?’ Isaiah said, ‘Here am I! Send me’ (Isaiah 6:8).”

- Jan

 
 

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