13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14, NET©
To begin with, the bible tells of the narrow and the wide. Where the wide leads to ruin and the narrow to eternal life. The other is a breakdown by gate and path. That is, something that has a beginning and is then followed by a journey.
The gate is the beginning of something. The gateway to find eternal life is cramped, so it is not easy to get into it, and worse is, that there are few who find it. Thus, we must both seriously seek the narrow gate as well as work to get through it.
Fight to Come Through
24 Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Luke 13:24, NET©
We are encouraged to fight to enter through the narrow gate. Do not take it lightly, to get through. Do not be fooled that you’re through just because someone else tells you. We need to seriously learn how we get through.
Jesus Is the Gate
9 I (Jesus) am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. John 10:9, NET©
It is Jesus who is the gate. No person can come through the gate in his own power or through his own merits, only by Jesus letting us through.
The gate is also the beginning of salvation. Whoever enters through Jesus is saved. Thus, they are not saved, but gets saved and hopefully completes salvation by walking on the narrow road.
Impossible for People
Is it possible for normal people to come into the kingdom of God?
Needle’s eye – Mark 10:23-27, NET©
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
26 They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but not for God; all things are possible for God.”
No person can enter the kingdom of God. The example that a camel could come through a needle eye is an image of how unrealistic it is. The problem is not that God can not do miracles, he can and he does.
The problem lies with us, our will and ability to bow for Jesus. The reason that it would be harder for a rich man is because he has more to lose.
In order for God to take us through the narrow gate, we must be prepared to lose ourselves to God. We must put down our pride, our own ambitions, surrender to God, and let us be brought to repentance, by divine sorrow over sin as the Holy Spirit leads.
The only thing is, it is so hard! It is very easy for our flesh, out sinful nature, to resist. Therefore, it is on us to be really heartbroken before God and extremely serious in seeking Jesus as our savior.