Creator, Father, King #186

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. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

ENGINE PROBLEMS. FLAT TIRES. Potholes. Speed bumps. Speed traps. People who text while driving. People who run red lights. People who cut you off without signaling. Rush-hour traffic. Roadkill.

And that’s before you leave your neighborhood!

Hazards and annoyances abound when you drive a car. But one of a motorist’s worst nightmares is seeing this warning sign: “Road narrows ahead. Expect delays.”

Aaaaarrrrrgh.

Narrow roads are no fun to navigate. But in today’s Scripture passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the crowd to seek a different kind of narrow path. Jesus’ message goes against societal norms, even much of what is preached in many churches.

Let’s take a closer look at the Savior’s profound words.

What’s It Mean?

In 2017, the Pew Research Center published a report saying that 2.3 billion (31 percent) of the world’s 7.3 billion people claimed to be Christian. But does nearly one-third of the earth really follow Christ as their Lord and Savior?

Not according to the Bible.

Today’s passage—and Scripture’s complete testimony—is clear: true Christians will always be a significant minority. Look, too, at Jesus’ interchange with someone in Luke 13:23-24: “Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ He replied, ‘Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.’”

Sadly, many people lead a blatantly wicked life, willfully rejecting God. Many others believe their “religiosity” will get them through heaven’s door, so to speak. Thus, the “highway to hell,” as Matthew 7:13 says, is wide and well-traveled. The end of that road is horrific: eternal destruction and separation from God.

By comparison, the road into God’s Kingdom is narrow and lightly traveled. Why? Because it’s “difficult” (verse 14). The Christian life is full of wonderful blessings but also great hardships. It weeds out the pretenders. You can’t be a half-hearted follower of Christ (Revelation 3:16). But that road’s end is a glorious eternity where weary travelers will rejoice in God’s presence forever.

The path is clear: choose the narrow gate and follow Christ as your Lord and Savior!

Now What?

Read Luke 13:22-30 for a similar allegory from Jesus about God’s Kingdom.

Did You Know?

Jesus likely used a gate metaphor in Matthew 7:13-14 because city gates were vital parts of daily life in the ancient Greco-Roman world.