Enter By The Narrow Gate
Matthew 7:13-14 (New King James Version)
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus calls us to enter by the narrow gate. Why does He call it narrow? There is only one way to the Father and Heaven and that is through Him. Many travel the broad road that leads to destruction. There are many today who claim there are many ways to heaven or to the gods they serve. But in the end all of the roads apart from Jesus will lead to destruction and lead to hell.
The broad road is the easy way. It is the way of living in our sin and living for the selfish desires that rage within us. These are the desires that have driven and led us from the moment we are born. We are born into sin and we are dominated by sin. But a true change takes place when we come to Christ. Heart change happens, which leads to life change. The person who is truly born again is the person who is being changed daily into the image and character of Christ.
The narrow road is the hard road. It is a road that is marked by dying to self. Jesus said for any man to come after me He must deny Himself and pick up His cross. He compared it to a cross. It is on the cross that He was crucified for our sin. It is the daily journey of walking with Him that our flesh and sinful nature is crucified. As we crucify our flesh daily, the nature of Christ is produced within us.
The decision to surrender to the work and person of the Holy Spirit is one that takes place in our freewill. It is a daily decision. Many today will claim they can love Jesus and even carry the title Christian, yet live in sin. This is not according to biblical truth and in the end will result in an eternity being separated from God. It is a great deception of our age that will lead many to find themselves in hell for an eternity.
May we seek the narrow road. May we be willing to die daily and lay down everything for Jesus Christ. May we understand that we are living sacrifices and temples of the Holy Spirit. We are called to be holy because He is holy. The Christian journey is not easy by any means. But His grace is sufficient. It is always sufficient.
Prayer
Father lead and guide me. Help me to walk the narrow road. Prune my life of anything that would hinder what you desire to do. Produce within me the character and nature of Jesus on a daily basis. Thank you for saving me and opening my eyes to the truth.