The Narrow and Wide Gate

There are two different paths and gates described in God’s Word.

“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.” (Matthew 7:13-14). We first see in life, most people are following popular opinion. Popular opinion tells people to think of themselves first. They are told to do whatever pleases them. This would be an example of the wide gate. People are going with the main flow of the world. They are trying to please themselves, but really lack values and purpose. They are not thinking eternally, but are only thinking of their current life.

There is everything at stake with the choices we make. I was really taken aback when I heard this teaching again. The early disciples taught there were two paths: one path leading to life, and one path leading to death. Some people can become complacent in life and just go with the flow of things. God wants us to be our best. He wants us to live our lives with vigor and purpose. He wants us to make every day count.

Jesus is the narrow gate. In John 14:6 Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.” He is waiting for us to invite Him into our lives, as there is no other way to become saved. We are saved by grace. It is a gift of God. We come to Christ as we are. Some people believe they are ultimately good people and so they will inherit good things in the life to come. However, our actions cannot earn us a position in heaven. We have to come under the Lordship of Christ.

Jesus requires us to keep Him first in our lives. We are to follow the commandments and teaching of Christ. We are to live disciplined lives. We are told to be holy, and that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God will lead us to do good works, which we would not naturally want to do in our human nature. It is crucial for believers to be in Christian fellowship and in the Word of God in order to be edified and encouraged in our daily Christian walk. “And that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6b). “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13).

We are to have no fear in this world. In Joshua 1:9 we read, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” We should have no fear of what man can do to us.

Let us hold onto the teachings from Romans 
8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We need to have hope in our eternal position with Christ. ~Charlie DeTellis