THE NARROW GATE

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Matthew 7:13-14
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.

Here, the Scripture tells us of two types of gates: the NARROW gate and the WIDE gate. And there are two paths: the BROAD path and the DIFFICULT path.

Two gates and two paths each leading to two destinations... destruction for one and life for the other; it's hell or heaven. Everyone has only two options. There is no middle ground.

First, what we can know here is that there is a path to walk to salvation. Like most spiritual experiences, salvation is instantaneous and progressive. Yes, the moment we received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we are birthed in heaven, and we are saved.

But for most of us who live after a sincere salvation prayer, it doesn't end there. The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:12 to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. "Work out" means "to do that from which something results." Also, we are to do it in the fear of the Lord and with trembling. TREMBLING is a word used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but does his utmost to fulfill his duty. And so, that is the attitude we should have in terms of our salvation. It is NOT of self-entitlement and pride, but rather of humility and unworthiness... and in the fear of the Lord, obedience.

There is a path to walk. There is a road to trod. And what is important is which gate we END up with. Will it be the narrow gate? Or will it be the broad gate? Salvation doesn't come easy. Salvation doesn't come with cheap grace.

The gate that leads to destruction is WIDE which means that it is easily entered. The path is BROAD which means that it is easily trodden. If I may say this, it is a comfortable road. And you will find a lot of company there. You will not feel alone.

Back in 1970 in Manila, this lady had a vision one night. She was walking with other pentecostal sisters along a path. One said, "we must be on the wrong path, this path is broad."
But the other sisters said, "But this is the path that the pastors have led us onto!"
And so they continued to walk the broad path.
Again, after a while, one of the sisters said, "It must be the wrong path! This path is broad, we should take the narrow path!"
And the others said, "We are just following our pastors, they will not lead us in the wrong way!"
And they continued walking.
At the end of the path was a huge cave, that of which one suddenly falls into hell as one steps on it.
They saw the path, and wanted to go out, but they couldn't because of the multitudes behind them pushing them to the path.

Jesus Christ commands us to ENTER by the narrow gate. The tone is of urgency, of utmost importance because it is so possible to walk the path that leads towards the narrow gate, only to find yourself back in the broad path again. Jesus tells us that the gate that leads to life is narrow and way is difficult.

How many of you felt that life could have been more easier and more convenient if you were not a Christian? There is always that temptation to think that way.

• The rich young ruler: In Luke 18:18-23 and Mark 10:17-27, it talks about the rich young ruler who has been following the commandments of God all along. But when God has required of him that which he dearly loved, he was not able to continue in the path.
• King Agrippa: Paul shared the gospel message to him in Acts 26. Paul, at the end of his testimony, asked the king if he believed in the message of the prophets. It is written in Acts 26:27-28: "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”  He was so near, and yet he veered to the broad path.
• Charles Templeton: He drew greater crowds than Billy Graham and was a more effective preacher. But he had a problem - he desired academic qualifications. So he left the ministry for a time and went to a notable school! It wasn't long before he lost his evangelical fervor and his salvation. He wrote a book on why he left Christianity. In the last days of his life, he had Alzheimer's disease.

Matthew 24:12-13
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

We all know this that it is he who endures to the end will be saved. The difficulty of this is that we won't know what will happen to us as we go along. In our path, there will be diversions, stumbling blocks, testings, and trials. The word "difficult" that Jesus used in describing the narrow way literally means to "press hard upon", as in grapes. There will be pressures that will take the juice out of you. God has preordained such to purify us and to test those who will remain faithful. The Bride of Christ is one who has undergone proving. And endurance is the key to staying saved.

Joseph M. Sowell gives the following illustration in his book Fan The Flame: "The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch still lit for Him" (Sowell: p. 32).

One of the areas in which we will be tested is in the area of delays.

Matthew 24:45-51
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Delays reveal what is really inside of us. How faithful will we be if the promises of God for us have seemingly been delayed?

Saul was a person who could not wait. He offered up sacrifice that he was not supposed to do because Samuel was delayed. When the time comes, may the delays in life be not a stumbling block to us. May we be faithful until the end.

Jesus preaches with the same theme in Luke 13:22-28:

And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

In Luke, instead of just "entering by" the narrow gate, Jesus mandates STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. There is a command to contend for it. To compete for it as one competes for a prize. One has to labor fervently for it, one has to fight for it.

STRIVE: The word signifies to "contend" as for the mastery, to "struggle," expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would have to force his way in. Literally, it means to "agonize", a word taken from Greek games. In their races, wrestling, and various athletic exercises, they "strove or agonized" or put forth all their powers to gain the victory. Striving to enter in means we should be diligent, be active, be earnest, do whatever it takes to overcome sinful tendencies and to endeavor to enter into heaven. We are not saying here that it is good works that will lead us to heaven. God is saying that it will take much effort to keep our salvation!

Scripture says many will seek to enter and will not be able. This means that DESIRE IS NOT ENOUGH!
Many will seek it but will not agonize for it, having just a mere wish or slothful endeavor.

God can honor the desire of our hearts but it is not enough! In faith, we have to act and do something actively. Things need to change and the changes need to be sustained and consistent. We need to learn faithfulness.

Another element in this passage is that God sets a timing for it.

One day the door will shut. There are some who found the way and walked through the narrow path, but it was too late. The door has been shut. This is the essence of being quick to obey. Being quick to respond to the voice of God.

Hebrews 4:7
Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

Scripture tells us God limits a day! His grace towards us is time-limited. That's why Isaiah 55:6 says seek the Lord WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND. It means there will come a day when He will not be found. The door will be shut soon, and we need to make sure that we will make it to the other end of the door, by the grace of God!

Source:
Joseph M. Stowell. Fan the Flame: Living Out Your First Love for Christ, Moody Pr, 1986.