Scripture: Matthew7:13-14
13 "Enter
through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads
to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and
narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Taking a journey
down a dirt road to a country estate and arriving at your destination seeing
this glorious stone mansion in the distance but quite visible. There are two
gates side by side. One is a wide double
gate with freshly mowed grass which makes a straight line to the estate. The
other gate is half the size of a normal single gate and must be opened. Beyond
it is a pathway that quickly disappears into the thicket. You have been
instructed that going through either gate is permissible to pass through. The
choice is up to you. Which one is your natural choice?
Well, it depends.
Do you want to get there
quickly? You choose the wide gate.
Do you have plenty of time and it
doesn’t matter when you get there? Choose the narrow gate.
Do you like things easy if you
have a choice? The wide gate is for you.
Do you like a challenge? The
narrow gate and winding path.
Do you like sameness and routine?
The wide gate.
Do you like adventure and
variety? The narrow gate.
Do you just want to get to your
destination? The wide gate.
Do you love the journey along the
way? The narrow gate is your best choice.
So you see,
without stating why we have this choice, we have already divided the entire
world in two. Some, for various reasons would choose the wide open apparently
quicker and easier and known way to go.
Others would choose the narrow passage, slower more difficult unknown
way to go.
Before choosing,
let’s state why we even have a choice. We are humans created in the likeness
and image of God. Not created as God, but with a likeness too. Anyone who knew
my father, without ever seeing us together or knowing my last name – knew I was
his child – because, physically, I was created in his image. When I was heavier
I’d catch my image in a mirror and say, what are you doing here, I thought you died? I am not my father, but was created in his
image.
I am not God,
but was created in his image – in my soul – that part of me that can house
things eternal that other living creatures don’t have. But I chose to have plastic surgery (SIN) and
change my image. When I met Jesus and gave my life to him, God restored my
image to look more like Him once again.
The only way to
have that image restored is by going through the narrow gate. The way to assure that image will NOT be
restored is to journey through the wide gate.
For wide is the gate and broad is the road
that leads to destruction, but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads
to life.
A man who was on
his way to the airport to catch a plane. He came to an intersection where his
wife had told him he needed to turn left to get to the airport. It was a narrow
little road and he was on a board road that also would let I see some of
nature’s beauty. He decided to take the more scenic route. There is a way that
seems right to man the Bible says. The time was getting away and little voice
kept saying turn around and take the narrow road. He reasoned "I feel like
an idiot." Pride and stubbornness kept him going on the scenic road. He
got to the airport and raced to the where he was to board the plane only to
hear, "The gate has been shut. The doors are locked. The plane is leaving.
You have been left behind." He was too late because he made the wrong
choice. The plane would not be coming back for him.
Proverbs 14:12
& 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to
death.
You have to make a choice. Most people make no choice but to follow the
crowd – the way most people are going – that too is a choice. Neglect to decide is your choice.
If you choose
the narrow road, does it mean that everything else in life disappears? No.
Think of it this way; it’s
wonderful to fall in love. But have you noticed how narrow we become? The young
man who was the life of the party and was always around isn’t seen as often.
All the girls he flirted with are still there and have an eye for him but he no
longer notices them in the same way. He
has chosen one over all others. He now gives her his time, and attention,
interest, and money. The things given up
for her love no longer seem so important – they are still there and they still
exist, but to show her his love he has chosen to follow a unique narrow path
for the two of them instead of the wide path that allowed for all of his
friends and girlfriends to travel together. This is not a perfect analogy. But
you get the idea – for love to know fulfillment a choice must be made and life
has narrowed – it now has focus – meaning, importance that was not there
before. You have chosen to live for the glory of someone other than yourself.
The old WIDE way was easy but led to destruction. The new NARROW way is more
difficult but leads to life.
John 10:1-10
"I tell you
the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in
by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is
the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep
listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he
has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him
because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact,
they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they
did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who
ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to
them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in
and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road
that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road
that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Have you made the wrong choice
till now? Are you ready to make the right choice? If you aren’t dead you can
still make the right choice. VIDEO – 2nd
chance
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