Wide and Narrow Gates
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:13-14)
The world we live in today is becoming more and more difficult for us to feel comfortable. It sometimes feels like a foreign place. We feel very isolated at times from others around us, as our thoughts and desires are so different from theirs. We are walking with Jesus and following the narrow gate that leads to life, while they are following the wide gate that will lead them to destruction, unless they wake up. They are living a life full of pride and arrogance and full of worldly things that are temporary and have no value. I think these verses in Isa. 59:7-9 say it very well, “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.”
The world is in turmoil and it appears that most people don’t seem to notice or don’t seem to mind what is happening. Isaiah 28:20 says that they are trying to be comfortable in a bed that doesn’t fit properly! It never will be comfortable as long as they live their lives by the wide gate and ignore God. It will never really fit right. They think that they are living the easy life, and all is right with the world but they are living their lives on an unsafe foundation. A foundation made up of lies and deceit and they are blind to their iniquity. Our foundation is solid and true and one we can count on. Although the strait gate is a narrow way we have no problems with this way as it is sure and true, and Jesus is our leader. Psalm 23:3 says that He leads us in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake. When we walk with Him he guides us and protects us even when things are hard. “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. “(2Cor. 12:8-10) Things don’t always go the way we want them too and we cannot always fix them. These are times that we give them to the Lord because we know He has a way and He will deal with whatever befalls us. When we are weak He is strong.
The time appears to be short until our Lord returns, and we must make ourselves ready to meet Him. Isaiah 61:1-3 says, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”
We truly do live in an amazing time. The narrow path may appear to be getting narrower and narrower, but it is based on a true foundation and when the storm comes we won’t be looking for shelter as those who follow the wide path. We already have a sure foundation that we know we can count on and it leads to life. It’s Jesus Christ our Lord!
