NARROW IS ENOUGH

Matthew 7:14
“How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”
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We do not like tight spaces. We do not like traffic for it slows us down. This is also the reason why we always choose the easiest path when solving a problem or going through our lives. One would bribe an official to have a permit approved faster. We would hire a lot of inspectors to check products for defects rather than going to the root cause of the problem. We want to go through the wider gate than the narrow one.

Our culture today describes this narrow path as slow-paced, narrow-minded, prejudiced, uptight, restrictive and old-fashioned. Have you ever been called those things when you try to persuade your colleagues to dig deeper on a problem, ask them to pray and for them to read the bible?

Well, get used to it. And, if you're committed to Christ, it's going to get worse. And we must understand better the meaning of this “narrow gate”. We are on constant choice: choose to follow the commandments of God or the commandments of men. One way is easy, the other way is hard. The boundaries are clearly distinguished. One gate leads to destruction, the other gate lead to eternal life.

Revealed truths compel obedience to God’s way. To enter the "narrow gate," one must leave self behind; on the other hand, to enter the "wider way," there is no limit to the baggage—self-righteousness, pride, hatred, envy, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, discord, and so on. The "narrow gate" is the very opposite of these works of the flesh. So in entering the narrow gate, we have to bring only our faithfulness and trust in the Lord.

And that is enough.

The "narrow road’ and "narrow gate" has to do with one’s everyday living – our relationship to God and to one another. It is works of the Spirit versus works of the flesh. How many Christians commit their lives to God? Christianity is a journey, not a one time event.

Almighty Father, give us the wisdom to choose the narrow gate to Your heart and have the faithfulness and trust to do so. Amen +

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.