The narrow gate and the wide gate.
It seems to me that the right choices are often the hard ones, there the ones that go against the normal, the ones that resist peer pressure, temptation, but that are God pleasing. The easy choices, they can be the ones that meet the approval of most, they don't go against the grain and they are not always God pleasing.
It seems to me that the right choices are often the hard ones, there the ones that go against the normal, the ones that resist peer pressure, temptation, but that are God pleasing. The easy choices, they can be the ones that meet the approval of most, they don't go against the grain and they are not always God pleasing.
Just what does the below verse suggest?
Matthew 7:13-14
New International Version (NIV)
The Narrow and Wide Gates
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
To me it is suggestive of a few things, the more against the flow choice is to have a relationship with Jesus, but it also suggests that this choice or life path is narrow and perhaps challenging. A narrow road is usually harder to navigate.
It seems to say that the wide gate will be more popular, but many times will not lead to anything profitable.
Could it be that God designed it this way, that he gave us free choice to choose the more challenging earthly path versus the one of least resistance so that our choosing him would be validated by staying the course, by navigating the narrow path. After all this windy path can be full of faith testing experiences that will substantiate our faith, our choice, our love, our relationship to Jesus.
I want to know You - Jesus Culture (with lyrics)
I Just Want You - Planetshakers
To me it is suggestive of a few things, the more against the flow choice is to have a relationship with Jesus, but it also suggests that this choice or life path is narrow and perhaps challenging. A narrow road is usually harder to navigate.
It seems to say that the wide gate will be more popular, but many times will not lead to anything profitable.
Could it be that God designed it this way, that he gave us free choice to choose the more challenging earthly path versus the one of least resistance so that our choosing him would be validated by staying the course, by navigating the narrow path. After all this windy path can be full of faith testing experiences that will substantiate our faith, our choice, our love, our relationship to Jesus.
I want to know You - Jesus Culture (with lyrics)
I Just Want You - Planetshakers
I think we have often mistakenly used this verse in the context of obtaining salvation, and that conflicts with salvation being a gift of grace, even making us puffed up. It also may limit our desire to see others come to salvation as we assume many will not. The narrow road, or the road less travelled, may have fewer tracks to follow, feel more like a rollercoaster than a freeway, and as you stated, may feel like you are against the grain, in the wrong direction, or even lost. What it does encourage however is a dependency on God to get us through or navigate without the use of cruise control. We have to be aware, conscious, shifting gears, braking, stopping, asking for directions, and sometimes backing up to allow passage. And we can't see or judge all the other traffic as we need to pay attention to where we are going. It's one of the things I noticed when comparing roads in UK to North America.
ReplyDeleteto me the bible would suggest that it is both, it was hard for the rich man to give up his wealth for the sake of eternity....but ya I do think it has life road implications as well....thanks for the comment
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