Enter through the narrow gate… and do not look back

 

Matthew 7:13-14  13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 17:32 "Remember Lot's wife.

The words of the Bible happen in our lives on many levels. I have experienced this in my own life so I know it is true. Today when I was outside tending to needs. I did this twice. And, before each one of these two scenes of life occurred, I was presented with a decision. Both times there was a moment of decision quietly spoken in my heart. Both times, I entered by the narrow gate (but did not know it at the time, in that context) and was blessed right after that. It was a while after the second scene of life (as I call it… just a way to express a set of experiences in time) that I later thought, or God told me quietly, that what I did these two times was to “enter by the narrow gate.” You see sometimes when God gives us something He asks for something first. Here, His question is the narrow gate. What He asks for is selflessness, caring for others and other things depending on what He is teaching you. Being obedient to the voice of God opens the gate. Thank You God for your quite voice in my heart.

 

I noticed that entering by the narrow gate is done throughout our lives in the scenes of life of a day. For the blessings that follow in these type circumstances, we must make Godly decisions beforehand by simply being obedient to the quiet voice of God in our hearts, even if at the time there seems to be a cost involved. If it is a temporary loss or not, you just stored up treasure in heaven. Not only that, but for that scene of life you are on the narrow way that leads to life. Now, I am not saying that if you act selfishly and miss the mark that you are no longer on the road to life, because Jesus is the Way (John 14:6). I am saying that for that lesson in life you have done well when you entered the narrow way by the narrow gate and God will bless you on earth and in heaven.

 

The narrow gate, I believe, is first entered when you accept Christ. It is again being obedient to the Holy Spirit’s call in your life. This is our new birth and when we are saved. This initial moment is also reflected in that we have died Colossians 3:3  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Then, as we live our life we are saved from the power of sin, by Jesus Christ, even though we are already saved, we are saved from the power of sin (when we go to be with the Lord we are removed from the presence of sin). This is reflected in how we die daily, even though we have died to sin (Roman’s 6:2), we still die daily to sin. 1 Corinthians 15:31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. This is where the narrow gate and narrow way happens in daily life. As we die daily, we heed the quiet voice of God and enter a different set of experiences than we would have otherwise. It’s reflected all through the Bible as God’s children obeyed His voice blessings followed and as they did not obey chastisements followed (blessings and curses: Deuteronomy 11:26-28  26 "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse.) I am not saying you will be cursed if you have a moment of selfishness but you will miss a set of experiences for that moment in time that you cannot get back. That being said, I believe, with all my heart, that God will give you other opportunities for that same growth, because of His great love for you. I did well for two times myself but for the third (which I am not getting into), I did not do so well. You see at the end of the day, I saw where I had passed (through the narrow gate) and where I had failed. Next time, by the power of Christ, I intend on passing where I failed.

 

So, as we hear God’s voice we chose to obey from the heart: Matthew 7:12 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. This is the narrow gate from which we enter the narrow way. They are daily decisions we make, following Jesus, as we die daily.

 

After these things happened, later today I remembered, in part, Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (I will be open and honest and tell you this is where I did not do so well and I am ashamed. Forgive me Father (note: mine was not a looking back as in remember Lot’s wife, in the context of Luke 17:32, which is an imperative of Perilous Times. Believe me, I know the difference... see this page)). Right after thinking of that, when I came back inside, I flipped through the channels on my TV and stopped on an old Billy Graham crusade. During his message he was speaking of Sodom and Gomorra and mentioned, do not look back… Remember Lot's wife. Then he spoke of entering by the narrow gate. Both things on my mind today. How does God do that? I have no idea but He does it. That was about the end of the crusade and then I got up to write this page.

Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I did not write this to boast in myself. God forgive me if I ever do. I wrote it for you, boasting in Christ (Galatians 6:14), knowing that God will keep my treasure in heaven, because I am telling you to help you in your life… and because I have to tell you what I feel I have to:

Matthew 5:13-16 13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

What I wrote is all God (in my life). I am just living the gifts He gives to me and then writing some of it down. My part is minuscule. I am blessed by God to be able to have this life and to be able to write what I do. It’s all a gift from God. I kneel before Your Majesty Lord Jesus. Please always hold me tightly, forever.

This verse, which I thought of (words God gave my mind) after writing, really sums up what I wrote: John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

If you’re not saved, Come to Jesus!