Enter Now

I grew up in a religious neighborhood where it was commonly believed that a person cannot know with certainty his eternal destination (afterlife) while he is living. People are encouraged to live a good and godly life the best they can with the hope that that's going to earn a pass into heaven. But traditionally it was understood that you'll only truly know once you've breathed your last. Unsettling this may seem yet it is the prevailing belief in our culture even among the devout. However, what does the Holy Scripture say? Matthew 7:13-14 will serve as our anchor passage where Jesus said; "Enter by the narrow gate [pulé]. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." The text contrasts two different kinds of: • gates (narrow versus wide) • ways (hard versus easy) • destinations (life versus destruction) • proportions of people (few versus many). But in the same account, Christ plainly taught His followers: • which gate to enter (narrow) • the kind of life to expect upon entrance (hard) • where the path leads to (life) • the proportion of people who'll find it (few). In this short study, it's vital to understand that these symbols pertain to spiritual realities with eternal implications. And in diving deeper, we'll ask ourselves the following related questions as guide: 1.] WHEN – When can I know and be assured of heaven? 2.] WHY – Why should I choose the narrow gate? 3.] WHERE – Where can I find the narrow gate? WHEN – When can I know and be assured of heaven? The short answer to this question is NOW. Let's zero in on that word "Enter" which is a command in the present imperative. Meaning; the Lord Jesus wasn't directing His disciples what to do in the future, He was telling them what to do NOW. Contrary to common beliefs, a person can actually enter the gate that leads to heaven this very day and moment while he is alive. Isn't this truth liberating? Who would want to risk his eternal future on a baseless hope when the Lord says you can enter NOW. For this reason it is utterly unwise to delay such a weighty decision when your eternity is at stake. WHY – Why should I choose the narrow gate? If you think about it, it is counterintuitive to take the wide gate knowing its end result, yet having inherited the fallen nature of our ancestors (Romans 5:12), we in our rebellious disposition have defaulted to it (wide gate) and consequently we've been treading the easy path from the day we were born. That was why Jesus said many prefer this gate because, being creatures of comfort, the pleasures this world offers are hard to resist even though they lead to destruction (hell). But if you ask anyone, you probably won't find a person wanting to be damned. So what's the rationale that's hindering people from choosing the gate that opens into life? Answer; because it is NARROW. Picture it as an extremely tight entry where a person has to first let go and break away from everything he holds dear in this world – all his earthly baggages – in order to fit through that gate. The image is of a sinner struggling in turning away from sin, wrestling to surrender all that's ungodly and contritely turning towards God, yielding to His will in repentance and trust. Yes, the entrance to life may be described as straining oneself to submit to God followed by a journey that isn't easy, however comparing the brevity of our earthly existence to that of eternity, who in his right mind wouldn't enter the NARROW gate? WHERE – Where can I find the narrow gate? The narrow gate was used as a metaphor discernibly pertaining to the entrance leading to everlasting life. But was Christ talking about an object or a ritual or joining a religious group? What did He truly mean by "enter by the narrow gate" Where do you go to find the gate that you may enter now? What does the gate look like? How does one enter the gate? Actually, the right question to ask is not where, what or how but Who? The entrance isn't an object, a ritual nor a group, it is Jesus Himself. In the gospel of John chapter 10 verse 9, Christ said; "I am the door [thura]. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved..." The Lord Himself is the only gate/door to heaven and it is solely by believing in Him can a person be saved. However that verb "believing" is loaded. You see, the Son of God took on human form to live the perfect sinless life that we're unable to live. Though innocent, He served as the substitute in our place on the cross to pay the price (judgment) for our sins. Yet because He was without sin, death couldn't hold Him. Therefore He rose victorious over death (on the third day) and seated at the right hand of God the Father to mediate for us while we await His coming again. The truth is, nothing we can do can earn us a ticket to heaven. All our good works are as filthy rags before God's sight (Isaiah 64:6). No merit of ours can bring us through the narrow gate. For all of us have sinned and fall short of the glorious holy standard of God, and are solely justified, made right before God by his unmerited grace as a gift – not earned nor worked for, but freely given – through the redemptive saving work that Christ Jesus alone accomplished. (Romans 3:23-24 paraphrased) The only entry to heaven is through Christ alone. And to enter, we are to humble ourselves before a Holy God, turning away from sin and giving up our lives to a merciful Savior, believing that what He has done (incarnation, sinless life, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension) is more than sufficient to save us; granting us passage through the narrow gate. For those who have read this journal this far, it is my hope that you've already entered the narrow gate but if not, my prayer is that you'll come to Christ and ask Him to let you in. GOD bless... + jourNics 2023-06-24