Which One Is The Right Gate?

There was a time when we used to conduct Blessing Festivals on a weekly basis in different towns, districts, states and sometimes even abroad. That was really an exciting time and season. One day, we had a blessing festival in Punalur and on the way I was sleeping in the car and the lad who drove the car missed out one turning on the road due to which we had to drive a long way further to get to the destination and we were awfully late for the meeting. In short, we took more time and covered more distance to get to the destination since we took the wrong route at one juncture. This happens in our lives too. If we fail to make the right choices we may lose several days/months/years of our lives and other resources too.

Even in the Old Testament, God instructed his people to make the right choices and take the right steps. For instance, Moses commanded the Israelites to stand on two mountains - 6 tribes on Mount Ebal and 6 tribes on Mount Gerizim and they were told to recite the blessings and curses in a loud voice. 

Deuteronomy 30:19 
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

Even today, the choices we make in our lives have great significance.

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

We see two gates here: Narrow/Small gate that leads to life and Broad/Big gate that leads to death/destruction. The quick attraction would be to enter the broad gate since many choose to journey through it, but we need to understand where it leads to before we enter it.

Many consider those who enter through the narrow gate to be narrow-minded, but it is Jesus, the most big-hearted person who said to choose the narrow gate. So it’s not narrow-mindedness, but broad-mindedness when Jesus stated the truth that all may enter through the narrow gate and find life.

Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

People often go behind what’s trending; but we need to ponder about the choices we make for our life and future. Don’t go after trends, fashion, tradition or what everyone is doing; instead make a decision having a clear picture of what you’re stepping into. 
 
John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

Many people are deceived as they don’t hold on to Jesus, the Savior who is God Himself but became man to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. 

Now, this is my own explanation in regard to Matthew 7:13-14 - The gate refers to an entry point/the decision we make and the road implicates the journey. It is essential that we just not enter through the gate but also take the road in order to reach the destination. Many people enter the gate by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but fail to follow the path of Jesus which leads to life and life in abundance.

John 8:31-32
So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We need to feed our spirit- man by meditating the Word of God and continual fellowships in order to thrive spiritually. We must be very clear about the beginning/starting point and the course of our spiritual life - never deviate from Jesus. Fix your eyes on the Author and Finisher of your faith and follow His ways to march into the destiny He has prepared for you.

Do not ignore so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3). Salvation is totally free and all it takes is to ‘believe’ in Lord Jesus and cling to Him until the very end. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life!