The Strait Gate

2012-03-29

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

This is a portion of scripture that should strike the fear of God in us. Read this again: “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Around the time I was saved, I heard a sermon on this passage of Scripture. In those early days I was saved, I went to college thinking perhaps I would be the only person saved on the whole campus. I found out later this was not true.

Years later, I began to think that this verse was not as serious as it sounded. Because, come on, there are churches everywhere! In every place I have lived, there were many churches out there, often a string of them on any given street. It was only those cults somewhere out there that were not saved. Everyone else is saved.

Wrong. We CANNOT ignore what Jesus told us here: Few there be that find it. Look around your own church, your own family, and your own friends, and it applies to them.

Strait is the gate. Few there be that find it.

Interestingly enough, Jesus continues: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-16). Not every church is a church, and not everyone who calls to Jesus “Lord, Lord” is saved.

What should we do with this information? We ought to look in the mirror with the following in mind: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).