Narrow Minded!

Enter through the narrow gate!  What?  Really? In today’s American society anything with the world “narrow” in front of it communicates “STAY AWAY!”  We don’t want restrictions or regulations that limit our choices.  We don’t’ want to be narrow-minded, we want to be open-minded.  We want the open freedom of a vast array of many possibilities.  Yet the call remains over our souls and our very lives…. “ENTER THE NARROW GATE!”

These words are the very words of Jesus Christ.  Recorded in Matthew chapter 7 verses 13 and 14, He states, “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.”

Only a few find it, funny how even in our wide open, anything goes society many critical parts fall right in line with Jesus’ words.  I think of the military and the elected Special Forces.  I think of doctoral programs and doctors in particular. Firefighters, policeman, you got the idea.  People that choose to pay now and play later.  They entered the narrow gate and we are glad they did!

These are people that run into the middle of all it all.  They don’t hide behind the safety of city walls.  When things are at the worst they are at their best.  They are that way because they did not think they could have it all!  They are that way because they lost it all and gained something else.

In the like, any journey with God starts with this statement from Jesus.  You have to surrender your life, lose it all, pay the price of pride through surrender and let God take full control.  People that start with this first step continue onto an epic journey that could not be scripted in the slightest.  Make no mistake in God an epic journey awaits, but are you willing to enter the narrow gate on that first step?

According to Jesus few actually do.  I am praying that you are the few!

(Ephesians 1:11)  “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,”