“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matthew 7: 13-14

Over the weekend I listened to a young man describe how he turned his back on his family and his church to pursue the life he wanted to lead only to find that life wanting. During the process of his return to the LORD and his family he referred to the narrow and broad gates from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in the verses above.

The road is wide, well-pave and easy that leads to destruction. The young man found plenty of like-minded people on his own wide path, but Jesus contrasted the wide gate with the narrow one with its more difficult path that leads to life.

Some may focus on how restrictive the life of a Christian is, but I think we must first consider what makes the gate that leads to life narrow.

I remember talking with some work friends over lunch years ago when one of my friends accused me of being narrow minded when it comes to matters of faith. I suppose I was and still am narrow minded in that regard. It is essential to be narrow in your line of thinking as it relates to Christ because salvation is found nowhere else.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

Peter also spoke to the Jewish Council –

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

We live in a pluralistic society and while everyone has the right to believe what they want, that doesn’t negate the truth of the gate that is narrow. How can we best help point people to the Way?