Strait Is The Gate

The world is becoming a more difficult place to live in all the time. Those of us living in our Israel lands have noticed a big drop in our standard of living and an increase of the violence and corruption. We no longer feel that security and peace that used to be in our countries. It is hard to know how much further down we must fall before we understand why we are in this situation. We are still blind to our predicament and too asleep to realize how bad it is. Those of us who are trying to live by the strait gate and narrow path are becoming fewer in number. That is because we have lost our faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and are worshipping other gods, meaning anything that we put more importance in than following our Lord and Saviour. Following these other gods is the wide gate and broad way that is easier to follow in today’s world, but leads us away from Jesus and to disaster.

The strait gate and narrow way to these people that choose the wide gate and broad way appears to be too hard. They think it is full of rules and hardships that they don’t like. They don’t understand that by living the broad way our enemies are destroying us. Our peace and our freedom are being taken away because of them and their rules (man’s rules), which is ironic considering most people seem to think if they follow the world’s (man’s) rules they are okay, And yet it is God’s rules that lead to security, freedom and peace. It may sometimes feel that we are forgotten, and God is not helping us but His timing is important. He is letting these evil people get caught in their own net because of the wickedness they have done with their own hands. “Have mercy upon me, OLord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.TheLordknown by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah”.The wicked shall be turned into hell, and also, all the nations that forget God.For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.Arise, OLord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.Put them in fear, OLord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.” (Psa. 9: 13-20). This is God’s justice.

Our preservation and the blessings of the Lord come to us when we are faithful and live by the strait gate and narrow way. It may seem difficult at times, and we may feel persecuted and alone sometimes as well, but when we live in the presence of God we are never alone or fearful. This is the way that leadeth to life. “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.O my soul, thou hast said unto theLord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.TheLordthe portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.I will bless theLord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.I have set theLordalways before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psa. 16) We are so fortunate to be alone in His presence, the King of glory.

“The earth is theLord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.Who shall ascend into the hill of theLord? or who shall stand in his holy place?He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.He shall receive the blessing from theLord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.Who is this King of glory? TheLordstrong and mighty, theLordin battle.Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.Who is this King of glory? TheLordof hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah” (Psa.24).