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 do we enter 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)
Notice Jesus said not everyone who calls
him Lord, Lord …meaning believers…
not unbelievers. The only people calling Jesus, “LORD”, are those
of the Christian religion that have a measure of belief in Jesus, but not a
sufficient measure. Even though these
people had heard of Jesus and tried to follow, they fell short. They believed
for a time. In fact, they 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!”
They failed to build their house upon
the rock. (Mat 7:26)
They were of the seed that fell on the
rocky soil and among the thorns. (Luke 8)
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.
