Message summary: Let us faithfully adhere to the teachings of Christ revealed in the Holy Bible and let us enter through the narrow gate that  leads us to His paths of righteousness.

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“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 7:13,14).

We have a fenced in backyard with walk-through gates allowing access from our front yard on each side, and a wider gate that opens to the property behind our yard so that I can get my lawn tractor in if needed. Without these gates I would have very limited access to our backyard and in today’s text "gate" is used in the sense of access.

“Gate” is a common word found all throughout the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. That’s not surprising since the Bible was written during a time when gates were used at the entrance to walled cities for access.

Two gates of access are revealed in a teaching by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, a narrow one and a wide one: “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 7:13,14).

In this age of religious pluralism, diversity, and tolerance these words of our Lord may seem harsh and even unloving to some ears. An increasing majority are raising a defiant fist of rebellion against God, His Word and time-tested standards of morality. We read that even the majority are now accepting of the redefining of marriage in absolute rebellion against God's written laws.

But consider the solemn words of our Lord Jesus Christ, “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”

I address the faithful here: those who have “eyes to see and ears to hear” the words of our Lord. Let us enter through the narrow gate realizing that small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life. In a similar teaching Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24).

I am especially intrigued by Christ’s words, "and only a few find it". One commentary shares this perspective: "According to Christ Himself, most people will not be saved, in spite of the fact that He offers salvation as a free gift to all. Jesus clearly did not believe in the doctrine of universalism that is growing in popularity today, the belief that everyone will eventually end up in heaven.”

Let us faithfully adhere to the teachings of Christ revealed in the Holy Bible and let us enter through the narrow gate that leads us to His paths of righteousness.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13