Scripture: Matthew 7 v 13-14: "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 that go in thereat:
14 because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Of all the most important things to achieve before we shrug off our mortal existence for whatever lies beyond, we need to put on the top of our list the way that leads to life. We need to go through the strait gate to find it.
The strait gate is the gate Jesus went through when He came to Earth. The way of obedience to His Father; discipline and faithfulness to the truth. When we are born as human babies we are fragile and needy. We have a sinful and rebellious nature which must be changed by discipline.
In Hebrews 5 v 8-9: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him:"
Discipline and obedience involve a certain amount of suffering. No pain no gain say dieters, sportspeople, good presidents etc. Its a hardship to give up certain things that hinder our spiritual growth. Abuse of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, partying, clubbing etc should be the first things we allow Jesus to change in us.
He knows that we cannot progress far beyond the gate while we are still clinging to the ways of the world - part of the broad way that leads to our destruction. We are deceiving ourselves if we believe that Jesus created those things so that makes them okay.
Jesus created everything and made it good but in Eden when Adam fell the whole of creation fell too and became subject to Satan. He poisoned everything and turned many things hostile to Man's existence. The tobacco plant was made by Jesus, but when Adam fell Satan turned it into a deadly addictive poison to ensnare mankind.
Ezekiel 8 v 17 - 18: "Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them."
On the Cross Jesus took our sinful behaviour on Himself so we could get through the gate called Strait, now we must leave that behaviour at His feet to move towards that Narrow Way that leads to life. Paul summarized it in Galatians 5 v 19 - 21:
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
This is our check list of what we need to remove from our lives to fit on the narrow path. Pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, jealousy, sexual sin, witchcraft, strife, addictions, idolatry. We are a work in progress with Heaven as a goal.
Its the path less travelled and does not look very inviting. Its thorny and rocky and steep. We initially reject it because its a solitary single path and people would rather be happy and safe in the bigger crowd.
When we finally decide to explore this Narrow Way and get beyond the initial barriers of doubt, fear, love of money, easy living, and selfishness we find new intimacy with the Father and with Jesus. He starts to prune us for greater fruitfulness and add to our lives revelations and gifts others have missed because they had no pretty packaging.
Even though the going is tough because the crowd criticise your "independence" and your "difference" you know you are following the nail-scarred footprints of Jesus and people's persecution of you just takes you to greater heights on the Mountain of God.
You have now broken through to the true life God always wants you to have. Your fellowship is with the Trinity of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - very far removed from the world and its evil. You become involved in the great rescue of those who seek to know salvation through Jesus Christ. He forces no-one. He loves everyone and has given a free will to all to choose His way or not.
If you never move beyond the strait gate you run the risk of being sucked back into the ungodly world because you never fully left it. We need to recognize our need for the fruits of the Holy Spirit to grow in our lives.
Galatians 5 v 22 - 24: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
Many churches are still tied to that gatepost by tradition and false doctrines. They have failed to discern error and continue to mislead God's people. They are in danger of having their candlestick removed. Revelation 2 v 5: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Words of Jesus.
So consider your place on the spiritual map and seriously search for the Narrow Way that leads to life. Be one of the few that finds it! As Jesus says, Repent i.e. change your mind about tradition, check your doctrines for accuracy, don't be afraid to start afresh. Do the first works....be born again, baptized in water, then be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19 v 1 - 6: "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
Maybe you only gave mental assent to the gospel and your heart was never converted. A changed heart is essential to know Jesus. It must be sinless and pure. It must be clean for Jesus to enter into it. This is the strait and narrow way that leads to life.
There is a gate into the Old City of Jerusalem called the Eye of the Needle. Camels can pass through it only if all the goods and baggage they carry is first removed. When we enter into life with Jesus we need to offload our baggage at this kind of gate.
Prayer: Heavenly Father highlight the strait and narrow way to those who sincerely seek to plunge into spiritual depths and ascend spiritual heights. Give them courage to stand for truth and righteousness as a shining light for the lost to find their way home. In Jesus' name. Amen.