Narrow gate, difficult way, the path to wholeness for a few

By Dean Collins

It’s not much of a sales pitch. “The gate is narrow, the way is hard, and those who find it are a few.” So are you up for it? If you manage to get through the gate and find the way, will it be worth it? I guess it depends on what you want. The opportunity was presented by the Lord of the universe, so the promise is solid. If you choose to follow this way of Jesus, it will lead you to life—life now and life later.

When he began

Jesus did not begin his message on the mount that day with this challenging invitation. Instead, he spoke of those who are blessed and the various blessings they (and we) can receive. It’s a fine list: The way of Jesus comes with mercy and comfort. It comes with a new identity for followers to become a child of God. It includes the promise that God’s people will receive and experience satisfaction. But there’s more. Even when we face difficulty as extreme as persecution, we are promised a rich reward. We inherit the earth and experience Heaven. And we can have all of this with gladness and joy.

Jesus didn't hold back. He described the righteousness that was greater than that of the religious crowd. He said our impact on the world would be significantly greater as we enlighten and season the world through his love expressed in acts of kindness and generosity to others. Jesus told us we could live humbly with profound influence and no need for recognition here because his presence now and later would be all we need.

As he continued

But as Jesus started toward his closing thoughts, he made it very clear that the choice to enter the gate rests solely on us. Every person must decide if they want to walk through the gate. Jesus was very clear. The way that leads to life isn’t an all-inclusive resort package. We will have what we need and the support of many like-minded people to help, but there is actually work to do as we travel the road that leads to life. Jesus wanted us to ponder this so we understand exactly what the journey will include.

Jesus told his audience then (and now) that there is another gate big and wide opening to an easier way. But the destination is not as promising. Those who take the wide road will have lots of company but are headed to a destructive life of ruin.

There is only one way to treat people as we live out our days on this path. “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.” Herein is a summary of the teaching of the law and the prophets. The religious crowd back in Jesus’ day focused on many other rules as critically important. But Jesus used this one-liner. Only the way of love gives us clear boundaries.

A difficult choice

And have you noticed that Jesus is right? It is difficult to choose the narrow gate and hard way. A lifestyle of doing to others as we want them to do to us is tricky. Sometimes others will return the love and kindness we offer. But not always. We are to love like Jesus regardless of how others respond; sometimes we will get rejected and treated harshly just like Jesus did. But we are never to act with revenge.

Sadly, it seems many times we who say we are walking the narrow road behave more like those on the wide road. It is usually our tone and our words that reveal we have slipped off the Jesus road. Speaking with hatred to those who think differently and are walking on a different road reveals our heart. It also reveals that somehow we must have wandered onto the destructive path. But damaging words and actions are not the way of Jesus.

Rescue will come

Way back in Psalms David spoke of needing to be rescued. Apparently, as he tried to walk the narrow road he ended up with some enemies. In fact, the attacks were so great he needed God to rescue him. We will also need some rescuing from time to time. If you have been on the narrow road for very long, you know God is a great rescuer. When we call out because of enemy attack, he steps between us and the enemy and even lifts us up and puts us on the right path when we admit our mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

David said God got him out of a tight spot and set him in a broad place where he discovered that God delighted in him. Yes, the gate is narrow and the road is hard. But when we choose to love like Jesus, he will reveal so many beautiful places where we can lie down in green pastures and eat at a table he has prepared for us.

In the end, we will not only find our eternal home, we will have shone a light that helped others get through the narrow gate and onto the same road. Others will follow us on the road we choose. And doing to others what we want them to do to us will always keep us focused on the right choices.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:12-14; 5:3-12; Psalm 18:19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Keith Hardy on Unsplash

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