Written ~ 10-03-2023
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.
14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
A few friends of mine are going through this Bible Reading journey with me; and this morning two of those friends made a comment regarding verse 7:14 which made me pause for a moment… “Why is this road so small and narrow? We want everyone to find it!” That comment made me stop and think about it too!
So, that’s where I hope today’s journey takes us, to learn from Scripture, see if we can find out why the road, the gateway is narrow and difficult to find.
In the world today there are an infinite number of avenues to find satisfaction, to find what the soul thinks it needs. With temporary gratification it causes a person to search again in a different place. And with so many roads which lead to nowhere, but have easy access, create an illusion that no matter what path you stumble upon it’s going to bring you contentment and happiness. But… Each of these roads could lead you further and further from the one true, though very narrow gateway that leads to Salvation.
Let’s go back to my friend’s question, “Why is this road so small and narrow?” In John 14:6 Jesus says,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Our Father in Heaven, the Almighty God, sent His ONE and ONLY Son to this earth to be the way to Salvation. God did not send numerous “sons,” He didn’t create several ways to Salvation. He sent ONE.
John 3:16 says,
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.”
With so many belief systems in the world today, it is a wonder that people do find their way to Christ.
In Matthew 3:3, John the Baptist is shouting,
“Prepare THE WAY for the Lord’s coming! Clear THE ROAD for Him!”
In all of Scripture we see the many ways each generation falls into sin and how their hearts are hardened to the commandments of the Almighty God. But what we also see in the entirety of God’s Word is Jesus. The Scriptures, Old Testament and New, point to Jesus Christ as the only road and the only way to Salvation. With all the world’s distractions, we need to come back to the question “Why?” Why is the road to Salvation so difficult to find? God wants our full attention. That means, His Son is going to be found by those whose hearts are ready. They have tried every other road. They know something is missing. Their search may continue in all the wrong places, then along the way, another small, barely visible path opens, they haven’t seen that path before and they have not walked on that path before, so at first, they’re not too sure about it. Nothing about this small path screams indulgence and entertainment. Nothing on this path is glittering with neon signs. But there is something about this narrow road that draws their attention; they see a small unassuming gate, this gate now has their full attention. And once they step through, what is it they find? Peace. Jesus is waiting on the other side, Salvation and eternal life is found there. The craziness of the world seems to melt away and at that moment all they feel is a lifting of a heavy burden. The burden of sin, guilt, shame, anger. This small path and narrow gate have led to forgiveness and acceptance into the family of God.
So, with the clamor of excitement the world exudes, with its great web of paths, roads and gateways all leading to various lifestyles, beliefs and sinful behavior, God has placed His Son at the only gate that will guarantee Salvation and eternal life.
Matthew 7:13-14 in The Message Version (MSG) says,
13-14 “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life and to God — is vigorous and requires total attention.”
Why is the path to Salvation, to the Kingdom of God through a narrow gate? Because God requires complete devotion, there isn’t room on the small path to carry all the passions of the world. No, the mountains of things we carry need to be laid down before the gate as we walk into forgiveness and the shedding of our sinful past, so we can be transformed into a new creation. We have now become a child of the Living God!
In John 10:9 Jesus says,
“Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 says,
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
For those of you who are still searching on every road the world has to offer, maybe it’s time to turn around and finally see the small road. Maybe it’s time to walk through the narrow gate, the gate you have overlooked for far too long, walk through this gate so you can have Salvation and Eternal Life. By doing this you will confirm your belief and acceptance in who Jesus Christ the Son of God is and what He did for you on the cross. Give your life to Him.
Matthew 7:13,
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.”
Don’t be one of the many who choose the wide gate that only leads to an eternity in hell, forever separated from the love of God. Instead, why not come to the Lord and have Him be your Way to Life Everlasting.
For those of us who have found the narrow gate, let’s help those we love so dearly who haven’t yet noticed that small path, that narrow gate, and point them in the right direction.
Father, the question of why Your path is narrow and difficult to find, might cause me to pause for a moment, but my prayer is that more would find it. Help me to show the love of Christ to each of my loved ones. Help me to point the way to Salvation and Eternal Life. Guide me Father in Your footsteps, never allow me to fall off the narrow path.
~AMEN~