Matthew 7:13-14 The Narrow Gate

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. [Matthew 7:13‭-‬14 NASB]

As Christians, we wish that everyone would become a Christian too. I have often heard of people envisioning a move of God that sweeps across the country, so that almost everyone will become saved. That is a grand dream, but there are some spiritual truths that cannot be denied.

The first is that - for now - this world is under the dominion of Satan. Paul refers to him as "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus calls him the ruler of this world “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out." [John 12:31 NASB] And, "“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;" [John 14:30 NASB]

And John said, "We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." [1 John 5:19 NASB]

Satan's goal is to destroy God's work. Peter says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." [1 Peter 5:8 NASB] And Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." [John 10:10 NASB]

The second truth is that, even without demonic influence, the human soul is corrupt and capable of evil. We are told, "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for  God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one." "Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving," "the poison of asps is under their lips"; "whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness"; "their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known." "there is no fear of  God before their eyes." [Romans 3:10‭-‬18 NASB]

Jesus said, "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." [John 3:19 NASB]

However, in spite of the evil in the world, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." [John 3:16-17 NASB]

Satan may have dominion in this world, but he does not have dominion over those who are in Christ. "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." [Colossians 1:13-14 NASB]

We are no longer citizens of this world, subject to the ruler of this world. We are citizens of the kingdom of God. "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household," [Ephesians 2:19 NASB]

 

The spiritual truth that Jesus is communicating in today's passage is that true followers of Christ will always be in the minority. That shouldn't stop us from trying to reach as many people as we can for Him, but we should be careful to not grow discouraged when they refuse Him.

Instead, let us glory in our salvation, and rejoice whenever a soul is saved.