Matthew 7:13

       “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.” There is going to come a time in everyone’s life when they’ve either found the narrow gate or they’ve gone too far and missed it, and the only thing left is the wide road that leads to destruction. Some aren’t looking for the narrow gate, they are just following everybody else like sheep being led to the slaughter. “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). They don’t want difficulties they want a life of ease. Notice how many enter through the narrow gate, it says few and doesn’t specify how many few are. It gives us a hint because the way is difficult which leads to life. Life itself can be difficult, but that’s not what it’s talking about. It’s not having a difficult life brought on by ourselves doing things we shouldn’t or things that bring difficulties by our addictions either. It’s the difficulties brought on by being a true follower of Jesus Christ. The first step in entering through the narrow gate is acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God who was punished for our sins, beaten bled, and died on the Cross, was buried and rose again on the third day and, ask Him to receive you as you accept Him as Lord and Savior of your life. The second step is to “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). The Third step is to lay down your life as a sacrifice, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus. Doing the will of the Father will bring on the difficulties on this narrow road as your family and friends reject you. Persecution comes because you refuse to deny the name of Jesus. Those that go down the wide road will meet their destruction because they refused correction. “God will wound the head of His enemies, The hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses” (Psalm 68:21). Have you found the narrow gate? If you have, lead someone else through it.