The Narrow Door
Scripture
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
~Matthew 7:143-14, NIV
Quote
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This is a follow up on yesterday’s blog. In our study of John 12 we saw that “Many had deserted the Jews and were believing in Jesus”, {John 12:11} but later in the chapter {12:37} “Most of the people did not believe in Him.” Did you notice: many believed but most did not. This is basically what Jesus teaches in Matthew 7, “The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” {Matthew 7:13, NLT} However the second gate is narrow and only a few get through. [1] Note first, there are only two gates. There is no black, white and gray—just black and white. Jesus doesn’t mention a third gate because there is no third gate. It is either your way or His way. We will serve either our selves or our Savior but not both. [2] The gate is narrow because Jesus wants you, but not all your luggage. Set your self-righteousness aside, you cannot get it through the gate. If you try entering the gate with all this baggage, you will not get through. You have to lay your pride aside. Jesus wants only you, so strip off all this other stuff that keeps you from entering the gate. [3] The gate is narrow and low. You can’t strut through, you can’t even walk through. You have to humble yourself. You have to bend that proud neck, bow that arrogant head, get on your knees and crawl. There must be a spirit of penitence.
This is not a ‘works salvation’, but certain conditions do have to be met. First we must recognize the gate or the door to heaven and it is JESUS. Second, we must humble ourselves before HIM. Third, we must repent of our sins and our part in His death. Then we pray, at least in our hearts, “Save me LORD”. Pride causes us to swell and in that state, we cannot get through the narrow gate. It is like the old joke: “How do you get two Texans in a brief case? You let the air out of them.” Jesus never shunned the humble, but He did refuse to reveal Himself to the proud.
This brokenness over our sin and repentance not only makes it possible for us to get in; it is the baptism we recieve as we enter. Every true believer will have a spirit of repentance. If your sin isn’t bothering you: you have never been saved. This is what bothers me about the church today. There is no poverty of spirit and no penitence. We come Sunday after Sunday and do not repent of anything. We don’t confess anything. If a person didn’t know better, they would think we are perfect. Can’t you imagine an ancient Israelite entering the Tabernacle and walking by the altar, basically ignoring that it is there. Perhaps waving at the priest standing at the altar as if to say, “I’m good, nothing to confess today.” He would not have gotten far until those Levites laid hands on him and escorted him outside. Why did Adam and Eve try to hide their sin? Why did they attempt to cover it themselves? Why didn’t they confess and take ownership of their transgression instead of blaming someone else? Why don’t people repent at the altar anymore? PRIDE! Or prIde. Have you ever noticed what is in the middle of pride and sin. It is the big I, the stiff-necked I, the erect and unbowed I. You may strut in, through and out of the Sanctuary on Sunday morning but you will not strut through the narrow gate and into heaven.
This must be surgery week. Teri’s daughters is today. Jim’s surgery {gall bladder} is tomorrow and we have Jenny’s on Thursday. Sorry about the mix up. Terri told me right, I didn’t listen right.
Praise the LORD, we got another rain yesterday evening about a little after lunch. Too wet to plow and 83 James Road.
Have a great day! Thanks for reading the blog.