Jesus Christ used the word ‘narrow gate’ to describe the ‘tough’ process involved in staying fit on the track to Heaven.
When One of the faithful followers of Jesus compared the popular lifestyles of people to the teachings of Jesus Christ, he asked Jesus: “Lord, are there few who are saved?” Jesus was not surprised about the question and He replied: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you will seek to enter and will not be able”. (Luke 13:23-24)
Is the Narrow Gate an Easy Task?
The message on many pulpits contradicts Jesus’ response in Luke chapter 13 verses 24. Some preachers made statements such as: “You have nothing to do once you give your life to Jesus”; “Your heaven is secured no matter what you do”; “You are under the dispensation of grace, so you have the liberty to do anything you like”…
All these and other similar quotes are ‘pleasing messages’ from the false preachers. The misconception of Paul’s statements is their references. Please test all preaching with the Word of Jesus, so that you won’t be carried away by the fake news about Heaven.
Jesus Christ did not give us the impression that the narrow gate to heaven is easy and He did not tell us that our journey to Heaven is free of hard times. Narrow gate means discipline, endurance, steadfast and denying yourself the pleasure of this world.
What did Jesus Mean by the Narrow Gate?
Jesus said: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate…” The word strive means; to try to achieve a result; to make a strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
The gate is narrow because it’s holy features are unpopular and not generally acceptable by the people.. The other gate that leads to destruction is wide because it’s sinful features are attractive and many people enjoy it so much.
GOD oversees the narrow gate while the Devil controls the wide gate.
Jesus gave an advice to us in the book of Matthew chapter 7 verse 13: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it”.
The narrow gate is a symbol of Uniqueness, Exceptional Quality and Premium!!
Prophecy of the Narrow Road
God is so powerful in His Majesty and He knows the end from the beginning. The Lord had prophesied in the book of Matthew chapter 7 verse 14 that narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. The present situation of this generation tends towards the fulfilment of this prophecy.
As of 2010, Christianity had an estimated population of 2.2 billion adherents, which was nearly 31% of the 6.9 billion people on earth (according to Pew report). And the future predictions are not encouraging.
If the human counting (31%) is so low, I wonder what the LORD’s figure would be in the Book of Life…
Many people will go to heaven, but if the figure is compared to the total number of human beings on earth, the outcome is few.
So, the word ‘few’ mentioned by Jesus did not contradict the description of John in Revelation chapter 7 verse 9 to 10: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Few people will pass through the narrow gate because a lot of people are not ready to pay the price of discipleship.
The Trend of Narrow Gate
The trend of few people surviving through the narrow gate started in the generation of Noah. After Noah preached for 120 years, only 8 people passed through the narrow gate.
The Lord said to Noah: “And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark-you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.”
The generation of Sodom and Gomorrah would have survived the fire if they obeyed the late night warning of Lot, but only a few survived the hot judgment.
Genesis chapter 19: “…So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city! But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city… Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.”
It was only 2 men of Moses’ generation that entered the promised land because majority practiced rebellious lifestyles.
Numbers chapter 32 verse 10 to 12 says: “So the LORD’S anger was aroused on that day, and He swore an oath, saying, ‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me, ‘except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.’”
Thus, we must not take the love of God for granted. Jesus loves us, and He does not want us to perish. The only way to enjoy His love is for you to obey His instructions and walk through the narrow gate. God’s love for you does not allow disobedience or rebellious acts.
How to Strive your Way to Heaven
1. Give your Body, Soul and Spirit to the LORD
You cannot achieve the outcome of gaining heaven without the Power and Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. John chapter 14 verse 6 says: “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
2. Get the Road Map
The Holy Bible is the only authentic map you need for a successful trip to heaven. It is wise you test every word you hear with the Bible.
The common error I noticed in our generation is less zeal for personal Bible Study. Some Pastors won’t preach on the narrow gate because it is not an interesting topic that makes people laugh in the church.
Don’t hesitate to obey the word of God when situation is bearable or unbearable.
3. Be Focused on the Narrow Gate
There are lots of distractions out there. Distractions can steal your precious time for prayers and personal Bible studies. Examples of distractions are; parties, movies, video games, social media etc.
4. Love Endurance
The acceptance of Jesus Christ into your life does not imply a challenge-free life. So, you don’t have the freedom to live a careless lifestyle, but endure every trial that comes your way. Don’t give excuses for stumbling into temptations. It’s good you always seek God’s Power to overcome sin and He will give you.
Thus, don’t look for “better life” through the Broadway. The end of such “better life” is destruction. Always remember the promise of Jesus in John chapter 16 verses 33: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
5. Be a Faithful Follower
Your work on the route to the narrow gate is to love God than all the things of this world. Luke chapter 9 verse 23 to 25 says: “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?”
God cannot force you to do the right things, but spend all your power of choice to follow Jesus on the path of the narrow gate that leads to Heaven.
