NARROW-MINDED
“Doesn’t the Bible say that the path to heaven is narrow because we need to do lots of good works?” asked a new acquaintance after I shared the gospel with her group.
One disadvantage about being a Christian for so long is the overfamiliarity of verses that there is a tendency to take them for granted. After my chat with my new friends, I started reflecting on Matthew 7:14-15 and realized how we have mostly relegated the passage to the topic of salvation that there seems to be little to be gleaned from after we have accepted. We just stop at the gate, forgetting about the path ahead. Not only that, we refer to the gate as narrow when it actually pertains to the road.
Back in Jesus’ time, there were two types of gates---the wide and the small. Travelers who chose the wide door could enter in bringing their personal stuff with them as they rode on their horses with no baggage limit. But those who entered by the small gate could only do so on foot with no carry-ons whatsoever. If they had any with them, they had to leave them behind. And that’s how it is when we come to God. We have to leave our good works, our bad works, and everything in-between at the small gate and enter empty-handed. If you think that’s difficult, compare that to the narrow life ahead.
Because the path is narrow, it limits our movements. Not only that, it is not enclosed. While we are being restricted, we can still see the world that we have left behind. Our minds, eyes, and feet can wander off. From where we are, we can even see how much easier life is on the opposite broader road enticing us to switch lanes which is why we are to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrew 12:2).
On top of it being restricting and not enclosed, the path is not straight with a promise of a relaxing stroll but it is a winding road paved with difficulties (1 Peter 4:12-13, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 Peter 5:7-10, Romans 5:3-18).
These are what make the way narrow. It is not so much that the road is narrow, but it is the choices and decisions that we have to make for the glory of God that make it narrow. But let us take heart of what awaits us at the end of the road. While eternal destruction awaits the travelers of the broad road, words of affirmation from our Father will welcome us home, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” (Matthew 25:23, NIV)
“Doesn’t the Bible say that the path to heaven is narrow because we need to do lots of good works?” asked a new acquaintance after I shared the gospel with her group.
One disadvantage about being a Christian for so long is the overfamiliarity of verses that there is a tendency to take them for granted. After my chat with my new friends, I started reflecting on Matthew 7:14-15 and realized how we have mostly relegated the passage to the topic of salvation that there seems to be little to be gleaned from after we have accepted. We just stop at the gate, forgetting about the path ahead. Not only that, we refer to the gate as narrow when it actually pertains to the road.
Back in Jesus’ time, there were two types of gates---the wide and the small. Travelers who chose the wide door could enter in bringing their personal stuff with them as they rode on their horses with no baggage limit. But those who entered by the small gate could only do so on foot with no carry-ons whatsoever. If they had any with them, they had to leave them behind. And that’s how it is when we come to God. We have to leave our good works, our bad works, and everything in-between at the small gate and enter empty-handed. If you think that’s difficult, compare that to the narrow life ahead.
Because the path is narrow, it limits our movements. Not only that, it is not enclosed. While we are being restricted, we can still see the world that we have left behind. Our minds, eyes, and feet can wander off. From where we are, we can even see how much easier life is on the opposite broader road enticing us to switch lanes which is why we are to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrew 12:2).
On top of it being restricting and not enclosed, the path is not straight with a promise of a relaxing stroll but it is a winding road paved with difficulties (1 Peter 4:12-13, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 Peter 5:7-10, Romans 5:3-18).
These are what make the way narrow. It is not so much that the road is narrow, but it is the choices and decisions that we have to make for the glory of God that make it narrow. But let us take heart of what awaits us at the end of the road. While eternal destruction awaits the travelers of the broad road, words of affirmation from our Father will welcome us home, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” (Matthew 25:23, NIV)