The Narrow Gate
In the last 18 to 20 months I have said, no less than 5 or 6 times, “It is so good to work in a place with like-minded people.”
Now, don’t get me wrong. I have worked with some fantastic human beings over the years, but we did not have the same faith-system. We did not have the same understanding on topics such as death, and Jesus’ Second Coming. Some were not even Christians and had no concept of Bible stories and their meaning to those of us who grew up hearing them.
I remember inviting a coworker and his wife over for dinner many years ago. She spent the entire evening trying to show me the error of my ways. In other words, smart and rational people don’t believe in a mysterious "god" that no one has seen.
I tried to share with her my testimony; my witness; my story; my reason ‘why’, but it fell on deaf ears I’m afraid.
I have flesh and blood relations that do not believe in our Creator God. They think it’s silly. I have friends and family that believe there are many ways to get to heaven, but they don’t refer to the one book of authority on the topic.
The Bible tells us the only way to the Father, (and the Father is in heaven), is through His Son Jesus Christ.
Jesus said...“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 NKJV
No one gets to heaven, or to the Father, unless they go through His Son. That is plain; that is clear.
1 Timothy 2:5 tells us, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” NKJV
Do you believe in heaven?
An 8-year-old child wrote to evangelistic Billy Graham asking, “Where is heaven?”
Mr. Graham went on to tell her that the Bible does not tell us exactly where Heaven is, although it does tell us heaven is a very real place. He then said this:
“But I want you to remember two very important truths about Heaven. First, Heaven is the dwelling place of God, and of Jesus Christ. In other words, when we go to Heaven, we will be with God forever! I can’t imagine anything greater or more wonderful. Why would anyone not want to go there?
Second, God has provided the way for us to go to Heaven when we die. We don’t deserve to go to Heaven, because we’ve done things that are wrong. But God still loves us, and He has provided the way for us to be cleansed of our sins. That way is Jesus, who gave His life so we could be saved.
Invite Jesus to come into your life today—and He will. Then thank Him that someday you’ll go to be with Him in Heaven forever. The Bible says, “Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life” (John 6:40).” (source: billygraham.org)
How is it, that Bible truth can be wholly embraced or completely discarded? One person believes, the next makes fun. The only thing I can do, is go back to scripture and something Paul wrote.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” NKJV
Friends, we are told the road to heaven and salvation is narrow. That doesn’t mean you can’t find it, or stay on it, but God wanted us to know the flip side of that coin is the road that leads to destruction and eternal death. That road is wide and many will go down that road.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV
There may only be a ‘few’ compared to the sheer number of human beings that have been born since the beginning of time, but you can be counted in that number. Do you want freedom from pain and suffering, debt and death? Do you want the keys to the city and eternal life with our loving and selfless Jesus? You can have it! You can have it because that is exactly what our Heavenly Father wants too!
“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40 NKJV
by Jeanette Stark - Tuesday, October 4, 2022