Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:24
Traveling along an uncommon path, one will usually encounter some difficulties. The path is not worn smooth and can be difficult to see which way to go. One has to pay close attention to the path in order to achieve the desired destination. The farther along one has to travel, the more difficult it can be, since the destination is only a small location and there are many distractions and other shoot off paths on the way.
Luke records, after Jesus was talking about heaven, He was telling the people to strive to enter through the narrow gate, because many will want to enter, but will be unable to do so.
Heaven or eternity is something that many people want to enter. Living for eternity in perfect conditions is the desire of most people. As a result, many are searching for the gateway into living for eternity, some through trying to live forever here on earth, others through some religion.
The world tries to believe that that there are many different ways into heaven. Most focus on a person just being good and making the gods happy.
Rather than there being many different ways to get into heaven, there is only one way. Having only one way makes the gateway very narrow. It is narrow to the point of one traveling a thousand miles across a nation to find a gate that is only three feet wide in the forest.
The narrow gate one must go through is Jesus. No other religion or person has the way to get into heaven. Everything else leads to the same place–hell. One must believe in, follow and obey Jesus, the Narrow Gate, in order to get into heaven.
In your life you have probably had times you had to find some location that was very small and difficult to find. It was easy to miss because of how small it was. In the same way, finding your way into heaven is a very narrow and difficult gateway. Do not be like the world and believe that the gateway is very large and available by many different religions.
You can enter heaven only through the narrow gate of Jesus. Work to enter through Jesus by putting your trust in Him and obeying His word.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will only seek Jesus to get into heaven; that you will be able to enter into heaven one day through your belief in Jesus; and that God will open your eyes to the false gates that the world presents.
And there is mercy for many coming thru the desert path.
Amen!