Broadcast date 24 Oct 99

The Narrow Gate

Have you ever had to make a difficult decision?

Strange question! Of course you have. Life is made up of decision after decision, from our waking hours in the morning to when we go to bed at night.

Small decisions, important decisions and difficult ones. We can not avoid them. Some are, in themselves, not important, but can lead to great consequences. We decide to accept a lift into town and are involved in a serious car accident. We decide on a job choice, a marriage partner or simply what we shall eat that day.

All those decisions make up the pattern of our lives and determine who we are and what we will become.

Sad to say, at the end of one's life we sometimes wish that we could undo the mistakes we have made, and we think it could be so different.

Jesus Christ had a lot to say about the way we live and with many examples showed the various choices people make in life, and also the eternal consequences of those decisions. And although He does not always mention the word choice or decision, it is often implied.

Some of Jesus greatest teachings are contained in what we read in Matthew 5 through to 7 -- also called : the sermon on the mount.

It was early in His ministry when He gained a name that here was a person who was different. He spoke wonderful words, He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind ,hearing to those who were deaf and caused the dumb to speak! Truly this was the Son of God come down to earth showing God's wonderful compassion and mercy.

Many persons heard of this and Scripture records that they thronged around Him, eager to see and to hear.

It was at that time, the gospel of Matthew records, that Jesus, seeing the crowds, went on a mountain, with His disciples, John, Peter and James and the others mentioned earlier in Matthew, and I presume the crowds, following, came to Him, expectant to hear!

And Jesus did not disappoint them. For, what follows in Matthew 5-7 is one of the great discourses of true wisdom people have ever heard. Read the words for yourself sometime.

It commences with those great be-attitudes:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

and also:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of God.

Those who believe in Jesus Christ are called to be the salt to the earth and to let the Word of God shine brightly in their lives. They are encouraged to do good works, not that they but God in heaven receives all praise and glory.

Many are also Christ's exhortations to live a life that pleases God.

In personal relationships? No hatred should be found in our hearts for hatred is akin to murder.

Be true to your marriage partner and know that even by looking at another woman lustfully is, in essence, already committing adultery.

Love your enemies. What a command!! You only have to see what is happening in the Middle East today to learn how radical that thought must have been for them.

Do good to others, and not so that others but that God may praise you.

He taught the disciples to pray the Lord's prayer, and charged them not to be materialistic in their thinking, but instead to have their real treasure in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.

We are urged not to worry about our lives-- about what may happen. Those who trust in God will never be disappointed, no matter how tough the going is at times. Rather: like a recurring theme, Christ says: Seek first the kingdom of God.

He tells us to ask, to knock and seek out that kingdom. that relationship with God and His people. He will hear us when we pray to Him for He is God!

Finally in Ch 7: 13-28 He lays down some further ground rules, so to say.

He speaks in general terms to the disciples seated around Him, but also to the crowds who are listening intently to what He has to say, and also speaks to you and me, my friends.

He likens life to two roads or two ways. A narrow and a broad way and says:

" Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and few there are who find it."

These are well known words and I'm afraid that often we hear and read jokes about them, like when people come before the pearly gate and Peter is the gatekeeper---------and then we hear the punch line.

Yet Jesus is dead serious when He speaks these words.

Narrow gate --- difficult way to life --- that's reality. To enter into the narrow gate and to do the things Jesus has just told us is difficult.

Believing and submitting to His teachings -- making a life decision to follow Him (the most important decision we need to make) is hard.

It is like entering a narrow turnstile that admits one person at a time.

It means getting rid of our excess baggage.

It means stripping yourself of many things - - like a consuming desire for earthly wealth, the unforgiving spirit, selfishness and especially self righteousness.

The narrow gate is therefore the gate of self denial and obedience.

On the other hand the wide gate can be entered with bag and baggage. The old sinful nature ,with all it's accessories can march right in. The gate is enormously wide.-- It is where we can indulge ourselves. A great multitude can enter through that gate and there is plenty of room to spare.

The gate is therefore the choice a person makes in this life whether good or bad.

The narrow gate -- so constrictive it hurts-- results in a way of life where those who travel on it are as though travelling between two cliffs. The people who travel it are, when it comes down to it, not any different to those on the broad way. They need to struggle against sin and temptation and daily need to be converted to Jesus Christ..

To be a Christian is not easy.. If we really want to follow Jesus in all our ways and practise the things He taught, such as we read in Matt5-7 we will discover that this will bring along difficulties. That narrow path has dangers on all sides and we will be scorned by our former friends. It requires a radical change which goes against our very nature.

It may be that you are put off by what I just said friends. If being a Christian can mean difficulties, strife and disharmony-- forget it -- I've got enough of that already!

Yet although it is true that being a follower of Jesus Christ can put us in difficulties, yet there is more to it. For to be Christ's is to be free, free from all our cares and anxieties, free from worries, free above all from the guilt of sin. For Jesus Christ, Who taught self denial and complete devotion to God set the great example by paying the ultimate price of His life on the cross of Golgotha. By following Him your life gains perspective. Your life leads not -- and this is a wonderful thing-- to ultimate death but to life , eternal life with Him the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

And those on the broad way? I think we ought to admit it : it is not all gold that glitters! For indeed, when we travel that road through life [without Jesus Christ] we have a great company, but we also carry with us all our baggage. We are weighed down. Not focussed on God we forget that we are made in His image and we follow our own desires which in the end do not make us happy and content. And, what is more, Jesus says: that road leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. What a horrible outcome for those who do not obey His call.

There are those who deny the existence of hell and make jokes about it. But the Bible tells it to us as a sober shuddering reality , where those who have not turned to Him in their lifetime and did not enter the turnstile of the narrow gate end up. Eternal separation from God--in utter desolation. Make no mistake about it. So says Jesus.

How do you find the way to real happiness and contentment, despite difficulties and struggles on that narrow road with Christ?

I think, friends, the answer is simple.

Last modified: November 23, 1999