Matthew 13:14 & Luke 13:24
Then Jesus opened His mouth and taught them, saying:… 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 Strive to enter through the Narrow Gate, for many, I say to you will seek to enter, and will not be able. Luke 13:24
We are thankful for Gates aren’t we, as they enable the invited to come in and when necessary keep the unwanted out. In the New Testament part of the Bible the word Gate is used ten times, and the thrust of the above referenced Gates is to invite us to come through the Narrow Gate in lieu of the Wide Gate, as one leads to an eternal relationship with God and the other leads to eternal separation from God.
People have many of their own ideas on how to get to heaven, but the only way is through God’s plan and provision, and not our own ideas. A relationship with the God of heaven is through His Son, Jesus Christ who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, - no one comes to the Father but by Me. John 14:6
Earlier Jesus said those qualified were I did not come to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:1 and the Bible affirms that while - the wages of sin is death, The Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
This Gift from God is legitimately and only offered to undeserving people, because God loves them and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to not only become a Man and to live a perfect life, but die what is called an atoning death on the Cross.
Many people want to get to heaven by being Good, but God clearly says that…There are none righteous (good), no not one. Romans 3:10
Others want to get to heaven by doing Good Works, but God clearly says, it is - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy (kindness) He save(s) us. Titus 3:5
The Son of God, is the one - by whom were all things created Colossians 1:16 as well as the one by whom - all things were made and without Him nothing made that was made. Jn 1:7 He would then pay a price on the Cross to satisfy a Holy God as to our sins, that now – whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13 and – as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to be children of God. John 1:18
The proof that God has been satisfied with the death of His Son and the price that He paid, is that He raised Him from the dead, the only person to ever die, be resurrected, never to die again, as – He was delivered up because of our offenses (the cross), and was raised (resurrection) for our justification (made right with God). Romans 4:25
In summary – the Narrow Gate is Jesus Christ, because - the gift of God is eternal life thought Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 and the Wide Gate is any one of the multitudes of man’s ideas on how he can get to heaven, but – There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way is death. Proverbs 14:12
Come to God His way, and as Jesus said - the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. Jn 6:37 The Gate is open and you are invited. Please come through!
Author – Sid Osborn