Be One of the Few

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

(Matthew 7.13-14)

Meditation

I’ll bet you really don’t like it when things become hard in your life. No one likes being ridiculed for their beliefs. Life is difficult enough without adding mistreatment for what you believe in. Why would anyone want to be persecuted at the job or by your peers? So, you always take the easy path. A path wide enough to avoid submission to God. At least you still have your job, and no one is making fun of you. Those parts of your life remain easy and your gate is wide.

Then, there comes a point in your life when you start to believe the lie that all good people go to heaven when they die. You try to convince yourself that you are good enough. Yes, you told lies, you stole some things and had sexual encounters outside of marriage, but you weren’t as bad as a lot of other people you know. You drank lots of booze, did some party drugs, but you never did any drugs that required you to use a needle, so you were better than a lot of people. You are definitely heading through that wide gate to destruction.

The above paragraphs are, of course, about me. When my life finally came crumbling down, and I was drowning in my own misery, I just wanted it all to end. I wasn’t suicidal, but I wouldn’t have cared if my life were taken from me. Thankfully, Jesus reached down, pulled me out and saved me. I didn’t deserve his grace. In fact, I deserved his punishment. He took a broken and pathetic example of humanity that I had become and turned me into one of his followers. He didn’t promise my life would be easy, but he promises to be with me when it becomes challenging.

Eternity is a long time to spend in the wrong place because we believed a lie, or we stubbornly refused to submit to the will of God. It’s not enough to just say, “I believe in Jesus.” Even if I believe in him but change nothing else in my life, I am still walking through that wide gate that leads to hell. Jesus changed me in ways I cannot even describe. I hope you will let him change you too. Please choose the narrow gate. There may be persecutions and difficulties while we’re here, but the reward is so worth it. Don’t be left out.

Daily Prayer

Lord God, you are the reason our hearts beat and our lungs can take a breath. You know our hearts, Lord when we finally submit to your will. Before we were saved, we were on the wider path that leads to destruction. We weren’t alone, many were with us. These gates are symbolic of each decision you make throughout your life. We must choose the narrow gate every time we come to these gates. Because we are weak, we always want the easiest path there is to get anywhere, and it the same for our journey to heaven. Don’t let us believe anyone who tells us there will be no trouble for us. You have never promised us a journey free from strife or danger, but you remind us we’re never alone on that journey. Give us the strength to always choose the narrow gate, no matter what the consequences might be. Help us to always keep our trust in you. Thank you for that saving grace that Jesus bore for us. There are not enough words in all the languages of the world to express our gratitude for what you did for us on the cross. In your precious name, we pray. Amen!