THE NARROW GATE

“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” ~ Matthew 7:14

REFERENCE:

Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus gave His greatest sermon on a mount in northern Israel overlooking the Sea of Galilee. He taught many revolutionary truths and addressed the motivation of true religion—that it is more a thing of the heart than the acts. As He wrapped up His sermon in our chapter of reflection, He laid down a principle that a meaningful and God-pleasing life is accessed through a narrow gate.

Jesus contrasted this narrow gate to a wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction and said that many people travel on this road and enter through the gate. However, just a few people discover (find) this narrow gate that leads to life. Of course, Jesus’ immediate context was eternal life, but I see a principle that connects ‘life’ to purpose, impact, or true success.

More people live purposeless lives than there are who live meaningfully. Many people are on the bandwagon of mediocrity compared to those who pursue excellence. More workers do shoddy jobs than those who are detailed. More love sin than righteousness, vice than virtue, ease than rigor, and more live average lives than those who make a positive impact.

Wonder why this is so? Jesus said in 14, ‘Because…’ This conjunction explains the previous verse. Many people travel on the broad road because the alternative is a difficult road with a narrow gate; the mediocrity bandwagon places no strict demands on them. They are unwilling to strain and deny themselves some pleasure or convenience to find the narrow gate and travel on the difficult road that leads to life (true success). It won’t work.

The narrow gate doesn’t allow people to carry the excess baggage of mediocrity, laziness, sin, excuses, and mental dullness. There are friendships, habits, and attitudes that the difficult way to true success and eternal life will not accommodate. Until you are willing to make adjustments in your habits and use of time and are ready to make sacrifices, you will just be like the average people around you. To be a cut above others, double down and go through the narrow gate.

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Matthew 16:24-25, Proverbs 4:26-27, and Philippians 1:9-11

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TO DO:

+ Decide on three adjustments you will need to make in your present use of time/habits.

+ Decide on a friendship you will need to cut off and the one to nurture.

+ What training, exposure, or accreditation do you need to excel in your field?