“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” (Matthew 7:13-14). Our Lord Jesus Christ’s mission on earth was to give His life and shed His blood for our salvation. His desire and sacrifice was not only to make men religious but to possess the righteousness of God. He was then committed to show men the true way back to God and eternal life heaven. Before he came, many religious leaders were misleading men, professing to them the way to heaven but they were blind leaders of the blind, not knowing the way to the heavenly city; they made men twofold children of hell than themselves. The reason why Jesus said, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).Just like the time of Christ, there are many religious leaders today that keep deceiving people, and they “called evil good and good evil; put darkness for light and light for darkness”. (Isaiah 5:20).Calling on all who desire entire life and heaven today, Christ now says, “Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) 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” (Matthew 7:13-14).
The gate of the natural birth through which the whole humanity came into this world doesn’t lead to eternal life. Every one that desire eternal life must repent and believe in Christ through genuine salvation and get transformed, enter through the straight gate and walk in the narrow way of consistent obedience in order to be part of Christ’s kingdom. As in the days of Noah and Lot, few will escape judgement because only few go through the strait and walk consistently in the narrow way that seems unpopular to many people. Like the days of old, the Lord is still saying today, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).
A gate serves two purposes; it lets in and shuts out. This gate is only opening for admittance to that “way” which leads to life and all who do not enter by it are eternally locked out from the presence of God and the realm of eternal happiness. You and the sins enjoys from time to time must be parted in order to see God. All sins must be given up completely. You must forsake them all without reservation, hate them with perfect hatred and ask the Lord to give you power to overcome them. The way is very narrow; it’s by abandoning all idols of the heart and the pleasures of sin and the flesh before we can pass through the strait gate that leads to life eternal. Many are called but few are chosen. Only few find the way of life.Only the humble and lowly in hearts who find their way to strait gate were able to repent and mourn for their sins. Such few with meekness of heart could walk in the narrow way. And only those few find life at the end. The broad way is the path of self-will and self-gratification. It is “wide” because it is a downward road. It is popular but deceptive. For those who are working in it, it is “the way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
In the broad way, liberty and freedom are the favorite words, pride and vanity, pleasure and ambition, independence and self-indulgence, covetousness, and love of money, revenge and retaliation,loose talk and indecent dressing, partiality and favoritism, sins of kinds are all indulged in without remorse or sorrow of heart. Those in the broad way justify themselves and paint their sins in bright colors calling them mistakes, faults, weakness, or harmless habits. What further deceives men and women walking in the broad way to destruction is that men of eminence and women of influence, wise men after the flesh, and honorable women, not a few are walking the same broad way with them. If the words of Jesus are true, “broad way is the way that leadeth to destruction” “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:20). Again, “strive to enter in at the strait gate”. To strive means to be earnest, to urgently cut off whatever is tying you down to sin, to deliberately burn the bridge that links you with the world. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:120).
Walking in the narrow way means a steady perseverance in faith and obedience to God through the grace of Christ. Walking in the narrow way means that our affection, mind, our will, all our actions and speech will be brought within the scope of God’s word. Those who are walking in the narrow way, have been called out of the world, cleansed by the blood and made new creatures in Christ, they are walking in the light and do not secretly have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; they keep themselves unspotted from the world and constantly crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts; they abstain from all appearance of evil, die to carnal desires daily and bury self-will at the foot of the cross; they are willing to suffer the loss of things which will hinder them from getting to heaven at last. Strive now to enter in. “Arise, call upon thy God”. “It is time to seek the LORD, till He comes, and rain righteousness upon you”. Enter while you may.