Faith Forum ~ The Narrow Gate By Gloria Wessner

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When you see wide open gates leading to somewhere, you would naturally expect to find lively, vibrant and exciting things going on. They may be gates to a big city filled with thrilling things to experience. These may not always be good things to be experienced however, and can end in destructive ways. Nearly everyone, if confronted with a choice between a wide open gate and a narrow one, will choose the wide open gate. Just like in the novel 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett where the child Mary finds a hidden, secret door to a most wonderful place that she and her companions nurture with love and care to bring it back to the beautiful garden it was, the way into God's Kingdom and to have a relationship with him is only through a narrow gate.
“You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13, 14 NLT)
This doesn't mean that it is complicated to enter God's Kingdom; it just means that there is only one way to enter heaven, and only some ever choose that way. As one resource puts it: “Believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven, because he alone died for our sins (wrongdoings) and made us right before God. Living his way may not be popular, but it is true and right.”¹
Jesus Himself is the gate. He told this concept in two different ways through a story to help his disciples understand what he meant by saying he was the gate.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
“Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn't understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:1-3, 6-10 NLT)
Jesus is more than willing to open the Gate to those who sincerely want to find his good pastures and live for Him. We in turn have our own door to our life we open to him if we desire to believe in Him and live for Him.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20 NLT)
If you desire to chat about what this article is about, or if you would like to explore further about an individual relationship with God, I'd be glad to get back to you. You can write to me at: gloriawes@hotmail.com


¹ Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois, l996, p. 1418. Parenthesis mine.
“Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”
He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late….” (Luke 13: 23, 24, 25a NLT)