HI Faith Travelers,
As we wrap up the 3rd quarter of the year, I believe the Lord has shifted the topic for this month to stress the importance of walking out this thing called life with Him and choosing Him over the ways of this world.
The scripture, Matthew 7:13-14 states, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.”
Let’s break this down…
There are 2 gates with 2 pathways, 2 destinations and 2 different groups of people who take them.
Let’s start with the gates and pathways…
The wide gate represents the easy, popular and least resistant approach to life. Because of the gate’s width you can take whatever you want through this gate because you are unrestricted. Its the gate that doesn’t require much growth or dying to your flesh. The gate the doesn’t require you to turn away from sin, come against fear or let go of pride. Its the gate that leads to living for you and only you.
The broad pathway through the wide gate makes this way unconstrained, full of the ways of the world that represent the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. ( See 1 John 2:16) This path is full of the desire for the sinful nature that Jesus Christ died for ( See 1Peter 2:24).
The small narrow gate represents the least popular, difficult and more intentional approach to life. This gate is narrow so you can’t take much with you. You have to shed the things that are not like God. This gate cost…because it requires you to live for something bigger than you. It requires you to live your life as a living sacrifice (See Romans 12:1).
The narrow pathway through the small narrow gate makes traveling this path difficult and full of enduring tests, trials and challenges that direct you to living in a way that is counter to the ways of the world. This way represents loving your neighbors & your enemies, forgiving those who wrong you and laying down idols to worship the true and Living God (See 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Now lets take a look at the destinations of those gates and pathways…
The wide gate with the broad pathway leads the way to destruction and eternal loss. This represents ruin, spiritual death and a life apart from God (See John 15:5).
The small narrow gate with the narrow pathway, though difficult to travel, leads the way to everlasting life. This represents grace, redemption, abundance (See John 10:10), fulfillment and a forever intimate relationship with God.
Lastly, let’s examine the 2 different groups of people that enter these gates and pathways…
“Many” enter through the wide gate representing the majority of humanity who casually drift from the ways of God to take the easy and comfortable pathway with the crowd on the broad path to do whats popular versus what’s right and true in the eyes of God ( See 1Peter 3:12).
The “Few” who find everlasting life through the small narrow gate are the minority who are genuinely standing in faith, walking in obedience and following Jesus, even when its not popular nor easy (See Luke 9:23 & Mark 8:35).
God’s word in Matthew 20:16 and Matthew 22:14 says, “Many are called but few are chosen.” The Lord calls us all to live the abundant life with Him but few decide to actually choose Him. He doesn’t force us but just like a gentle loving Father, He gives us the option to choose what we want, even though He knows best. That is why He starts off Matthew 7:13-14 giving us the answer to the test before He breaks down the choices. We serve a God who is not slow about His promise, but who is extremely patient with us, not wishing for anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance (See 2Peter 3:9).
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If narrow is The Way then the answer is and will always be “Enter through the narrow gate”.
Until the next Faith Teaching…
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