Enter Ye In At the Strait Gate: For Narrow Is The Way Which Leads Unto Life, And Few There Be That Find It - Part 1835

Jesus was asked the question, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" And Jesus, in Jerusalem at the time, answered, saying, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, "Lord, Lord, open unto us," and He shall answer and say unto you, "I know you not whence ye are." (Luke 13:22-25)

"Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour, wherein the Son of man comes." (Matthew 25:12-13)

Let's stop there for a moment. As we see in both these scriptures, Jesus' statement is quite sobering. Indeed, He is telling these people that once the Master (the Lord in this case) has shut the door, it is shut indeed. Just like in Noah's time when the door was shut by the Lord God, after Noah preached for over a hundred years, and no one listened. But I digress.

We see a similar example in Matthew 7:13-14, 23, wherein Jesus is speaking to His disciples. Three chapters later, Jesus is encouraging them (and us by extension) to ask, and it shall be given us; seek, and ye shall find; knock and the door will be opened unto us ... for everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

In other words, the Lord does not hide anything from those who love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. In fact, at this point in our relationship with Him, according to scripture, He no longer calls us servants but His friends. The mystery that was hid from the beginning is no longer hid from us. The scales of blindness have been removed, to the point that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement shall be condemned.

"This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me," saith the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17)

As Jesus said, "What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him? Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Enter ye in at the strait [narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat, because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:12-14; Luke 13:34)

This is why we should be aware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Still, as believers in Jesus the Christ, we need to reconcile that there will be those who call Jesus "Lord, Lord" and yet do not the things which He says. (Luke 6:46)

Remember, Jesus said, "Whosoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings, and doth them, I will show you to whom [that man] is like" before continuing telling the parable about the man who built his house upon the rock.

That is, " ... he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock; and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that hears, and doth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great." (Luke 6:47-49)

The Rock mentioned here is our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. He is our foundation, our source of all wisdom and truth, and He never fails those who believe in Him. This is why Jesus sent a message to John the baptizer to say, " ... and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me." (Luke 7:22-23)

"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense, He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing, for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert, and the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs off water .. the way of holiness." (Isaiah 35:3-8; Hebrews 12:12; Matthew 9:27-30; John 9:6-7; Matthew 11:5; Matthew 15:30; Acts 8:6-8; Matthew 9:32-33; John 7:38)

"The Lord is our King; He will save us." (Isaiah 33:22)

"And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 29:18)

That same good news gospel message of the kingdom is extended to us today. The Spirit of the Lord God is inviting us to come unto Him, and feast in His presence. Those who are weary and heavy laden come to the Lord Jesus so that He can give you rest. And to come out from among them so that we do not suffer their plagues.

This is why Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)

And similarly why Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world; he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Therefore, as Jesus said to those who asked, "Where is Thy Father?" -- He said, "Ye neither know Me nor My Father; if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also." (John 8:19-21; John 14:6-12)

And in another place, Jesus said to the Jews who only sought even the more to kill Him, "Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor see His shape, and ye have not His Word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me, [but] ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." (John 5:37-40)

It is for this reason that Jesus repeatedly said, "I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins" because we have chosen not to enter into the strait gate. Still, His desire has always been that none should perish but rather that each and every one of us should have eternal life forever in His goodness and grace, His mercy and love, wherein He abides in us forever.

He is the Great Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep, and did so, even whilst we were still His enemies. This is why we are to "seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6)

The strait gate. His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. Stand in the offering plate.