Enter Through the Narrow Gate
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. --
Someone asked him, "Lord, are
only a few people going to be saved?"
"Make every effort to
enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try
to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up
and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open
the door for us.'
"But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' --
How narrow is
the gate?
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. –John 14:6
It is narrow enough that it can only be
entered through Christ.
How many eggs
does a salmon lay that actually become adult fish? How many sea turtle babies
make it to adulthood? How many rabbits does it take being born to ensure an
adult population? How many sperm actually end up fertilizing the egg to become
a life? How many of any species does it take to reach full maturity
after they are born? What percentage actually arrives at the end of the road?
For mankind,
the “end of the road” is heaven. Mankind is in a similar predicament. Very
sadly, Jesus tells us, many will not make it.
What is our
life compared to eternity? What is a hundred years (if that) compared to
Forever? Christ told us to “Seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33) because He knows the road is indeed narrow. Many
will try to get to heaven, but will not get there:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord,
Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord,
Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and
perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away
from me, you evildoers!' – Matthew 7:21-23
Even though
these people had heard of Jesus and tried to follow, they fell short. In fact,
they even performed many miracles and even cast out demons. And Jesus does
not deny this fact. Yet He tells them plainly, “I never knew you. Away
from me, you evildoers!”
So how do we
know what God’s will is? We must read the Bible in order to understand that.
The Bible is God’s Word, which speaks to us and reveals His will. What is
foremost in God’s will? What is most important? A long time ago, a woman named
Martha did not yet understand God’s priorities:
As Jesus and his disciples
were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her
home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening
to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to
be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister
has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset
about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is
better, and it will not be taken away from her." –Luke 10:38-42
1Timothy 2:3-4
tell us:
“This is good, and pleases God
our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the
truth.”
So what is
most important in God’s mind? SALVATION. He wants everyone to be saved! This is why He gave us His
Son who died on a cross for us. Jesus said to “Seek first his kingdom.” But how do we get into His kingdom?
How do we enter His kingdom?
Jesus answered, "I tell you the
truth, no one can enter the
…And after we are
reborn, we must remain faithful for the rest of our lives.
