Squeezing through the Turnstile

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

These are among some of the most sobering words ever spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ during His ministry on earth, beloved! And their importance to all of us today is the very reason I want to take the time over the next several editions of these weekly devotionals to share with you just how critical they are to us. In Jesus' words we find essentially four key elements present: the gate entered, the road walked, the destination reached, and the travelers present. Let's begin this week just by looking at what Jesus said about the "gate" that is chosen by every man.

Note first here that Jesus declared that one of the two gates which man will choose is "wide." I would like to share with you some reasons for such a wide gate. One reason is certainly because the road to which it leads is meant to accommodate the largest crowd possible. Satan's desire is simply that as many as possible choose this gate and enter the road to which it leads. Yet even as he does everything possible to make that happen, he is fully aware that God by contrast does not want anyone to choose the gate that is "wide":

"The Lord is not slow about His promises, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9)

And another reason why this gate is so "wide" is that it is also meant to attract the largest crowd possible. There must be plenty of room for Satan's enticements and his "toys," each of these strategically placed along the way so as to catch the eye of the self-seeking and the self-serving who travel here.

By contrast, however, Jesus next declared that the other gate available for entering is "small." Why would it be small in contrast to one that is wide? What would be the sense in that? I believe that one reason why this gate is "small" is because Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father. Jesus made this point clear again and again to His listeners:

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me'" (John 14:6)

Thus, this gate is not small because God is limited in any way, beloved, but because there is only one way to eternal life! This is a message that needs desperately to be told again and again to a lost world.

This gate is "small" for another reason as well. It is so because each person must choose to enter by himself. There simply is no such thing as "mass" evangelism or corporate salvation! Each of us must choose for himself which gate he will enter, and only for himself. We must enter by faith, putting our trust in Jesus Christ. to save us.

Finally, this gate is surely "small" because we can take nothing of this present life into it as we enter. I recall the narrow turnstiles on the Metro system in New York City and how you would have to turn sideways to squeeze through to the platform on the other side. We cannot take with us any of our sinful practices or worldly entertainments or good works in which we may have trusted beforehand. Nor can we take with us even our our personal agenda for how we will live our lives.

Jesus said concerning the gates before every man, beloved, that one is "wide" and the other is "small." Which gate have you entered? Which road are you traveling? Scripture urges us to examine ourselves to be sure that we are in the faith. And if you are saved, what of those whom you know and about whom you care? Are you seeking to influence their choice of a gate in order to insure that they find the way to eternal life?

Ron