One leads to eternal riches, and the other gate leads to everlasting sorrow.
The world today seems to be unhappy with practicing Christians. Misguided folks are shooting up believers, destroying property, and ruining lives. The human cost is staggering. People don’t have to kill others, of course. One can choose not to destroy. It’s a choice one makes.
Jesus speaks of choices in Matthew 7:13-14, “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.”
He says everyone chooses between two paths, two choices: a narrow gate leading to eternal life and a wide gate leading to eternal torment. Purposefully taking a life would be a choice of entering the wide gate that leads people to destruction.
Of course, it’s not just murder that leads to eternal destruction. The New Testament lists many sins that result in that. First Timothy 1:9-10 states, “understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine. The best choice is to obviously enter through the narrow gate.
But we see so many of our friends, family, neighbors, and even ourselves make the dangerous daily choices – starting the day in sin mode is spiritually dangerous, with eternal consequences!
Point 1: The Wide Gate: Don’t Take It!
The wide gate is easy to open and to travel through. Lots of people can go through it at the same time – it’s that wide, think billions of people. Through this gate are the joys of sin, ungodly riches, fulfilled illicit desires, unholy laughter, gluttonous ease, and enjoyment. As we know, most people will be taking the wide gate (because Jesus said so). Jesus predicted it so. It’s been proven time and again. It’s a path of least resistance leading to an undesired destination. Don’t take this gate.
Point 2: The Narrow Gare: Take It!
Jesus first mentions the narrow gate in Matthew 7:13, where he says it is the only way to eternal life. A quick look-see would tell us this is the obvious choice.
Jesus is honest about the gate and the path that follows. Should anyone squeeze through that gate, the path beyond is tough, filled with obstacles and issues. You’d really want to go to heaven if you choose the narrow gate, but again, it’s the only way home.
Consider that the path through the narrow gate is difficult, hard, and hazardous ( some people are prone to kill Christians). Jesus never promised an easy way to heaven. He’s quite honest about it all. The Christian’s path is filled with grief, sorrow, bankruptcies, pain, sickness, horrible disease, and death. Christians suffer the same as non-believers.
The difference is that, regardless of our circumstances, Jesus is with us on the path to heaven. The apostle Paul said it this way in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.“
To put it frankly, those on the wide path are not at all walking with Jesus!
Finding Jesus and faithfully obeying Him is joy on earth, but future glory and joy are the living hope we find in our salvation. Jeremiah 29:13 has this for consideration, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Think of how the first-century Christians held on to their faith when their families were destroyed through persecution. Their belief was so strong that they held on to Jesus in the midst of suffering, pain, and torture. Many of those destroyed had never even laid eyes on Jesus! Yet their life was an eternal life in Jesus’ loving heavenly care. Holding on to Him meant holding on to an eventual, permanent, glorious heavenly life.
Great promises, life beyond our imagination, heaven is surely worth it all. You believe it, don’t you?
If you want heaven, then the narrow gate is the only gate to choose – take it!
Garland Van Dyke, Minister for the Matthews St. church of Christ
1915 Matthews St. ( PO Box 1522) Bay City, TX 77414