Enter Through the Narrow Gate

by Mr. Whitney V. Myers

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Enter through the Narrow Gate -- Nags Head (NC, USA) Beach Sunrise - Photo by Whitney V. Myers

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."  (Matthew 7:13-14)

This lesson is intended primarily for young people -- youth and young adults.  You are considering the path or direction for your life.  You may be feeling the call from Jesus Christ to commit your life, your way, to him.  Yet, the world is attractive to you; its ways are enticing you (1 John 2:15-17).  You may be feeling the world pulling you in opposition to the call of commitment to Jesus Christ.  You are at a "fork in the road."  Which way will you choose?  

This lesson encourages you to enter through the narrow gate which is Jesus Christ and to follow Jesus on the path that leads to life. 

1. Choose Jesus Christ instead of the world

     Make the decision.  Choose to enter the kingdom of God by the narrow gate which is Jesus Christ himself.

The broad way of the world may be attractive to you - for example, desire for "success" in the world's eyes, accumulating wealth, and prestige.  Yet, Jesus says the broad way leads to destruction -- life cut off from Christ, ruin, or loss (Ref. 1).  That ruin or loss can occur during this earthly life, for example, from love of money (1 Timothy 6:9, Matthew 6:24), or at the final judgment (Revelation 20:15).  Even though God does love the people of the world and sent his Son to save us (John 3:16), Jesus' disciple John warns us not to love the things of the world such as pride and lust (1 John 2:15-17).

2. Search for and find the narrow gate

     Jesus said, "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:14, italics added).  The implication from this verse is that instead of our choosing the broad way of the world, we should actively search for and find the narrow gate which is Christ.  The Greek word for find in Matthew 7:14 means find, learn, discover, especially after searching (Ref. 2).  Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7).

3. Enter through the narrow gate by faith in Christ

     Enter through the narrow gate by placing your faith and trust in God's Son, Jesus Christ.  God has ordained that the path to life and the way to God the Father is through his Son.  Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6).  Jesus also said, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:9).

4. Follow Jesus -- the way that leads to life

     Jesus himself is the way that leads to life (John 14:6, Matthew 7:14).  The life that Jesus leads us to is full in both the physical and spiritual sense (Ref. 3).  Jesus promises believers an abundant life (John 10:10) -- a life filled with purpose, growth, work, and service.

Note that as we follow Jesus on the path that leads to life, the path is not easy.  In Matthew 7:14 Jesus said "the way is narrow that leads to life."  The word narrow in narrow way in Matthew 7:14 means constricted by pressure, and implies trouble and affliction (Ref. 4).  Despite the obstacles that we will encounter on the way that leads to life, Jesus promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20); he gives us the Holy Spirit to help us (John 14:16, John 16:13).  Jesus promises that he will lead us as we follow him on the way to our heavenly Father and to our heavenly destination (John 14:6, John 14:2-3).

     Apply.  Make the decision.  Choose the way of Christ instead of the way of the world.  Search for and find the narrow gate which is Jesus Christ himself.  Enter through the narrow gate by placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  Choose to follow Jesus on the path that leads to life and to our Father in heaven.

Related Lessons
"Jesus is the Door" - John 10:7, John 10:9
"Jesus is the Way to the Father" - John 14:6
"Do Not Love the World" - 1 John 2:15

References
1.  https://biblehub.com/greek/684.htm
2.  https://biblehub.com/greek/2147.htm
3.  https://biblehub.com/greek/2222.htm
4.  https://biblehub.com/greek/2346.htm