Dan Middle Bronze mudbrick gate, © bibleplaces.com, used by permission.

THE NARROW GATE

“Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

Every road has one direction: forward. One might argue that you can go forward or backward, but we do not generally walk backward. If you turn around 90 degrees, you can still go forward, just in the opposite direction of the original forward. Now if there is a connecting road, you have the choice of which road to take forward. Choice is inevitable; we must decide which path to take. One path looks nice and wide, with a big, wide gate at the end that leads to destruction. The other path looks a bit rough and not quite as easy. The gate at the end is narrow, but it leads to life.

Jesus tells us which road we should take, though He says we might have to look for it. It is not a hidden road, but it is not a popular, well-traveled road, so it can be easy to miss. In fact, this road is not as wide, not as well paved, and difficult to walk at times. But when we get to the end, even though the gate is narrow and the path is a bit difficult, we will find life itself.

The interesting thing is that we so often take the wide road, even knowing that Jesus says it is the wrong road. Let’s face it – we prefer to walk a smooth path. A comfortable, self-directed life is an easy path. It requires no repentance, no self-denial, and no submission to Jesus. It gives us rewards here and now. For each of us, the allure of the wide path is different, but there are temptations there for all of us: mind-numbing substances and physical desires, greed for wealth and other treasures, pride in ourselves and our own accomplishments, lust and guilty pleasures that diminish others, lack of self-control or discipline that leaves us reckless both with ourselves and with others. Things that distract us from God’s kingdom and make us forget where we were going are on that wide road. Jesus is clear, this path leads to destruction.

Of course, not choosing a path is an option—we can just stand still right where we are, and never move. Then we will not be moving in the wrong direction. The trouble is, we won’t move in the right direction either. We will run through all our resources just trying to do nothing, and we will have nothing to show for it. It is like treading water: you never make it to shore, and you get tired trying to stay afloat. We could turn around and go back. But again, we will never reach the gate if we do not make forward progress toward it, and there is no life in moving away from the gate. It does not lead to life if we will not take the path.

So, what exactly is this path of life? Well, we are already on it. The effort we put into growing spiritually leads to the narrow gate and to life. Striving allows us to appreciate the journey and the lessons learned along the way. Troubles lead to transformation. On the other hand, if we do not put effort into growing spiritually, it is like standing still, and we do not grow and move down the path. We may not have troubles, but neither are we transformed by them. If we turn around and go backward, we head in the wrong direction toward the wide path. Of course, this also holds true for the wrong path – we can retrace our steps and get back to the narrow road. Every single step is a choice of direction.

The direction of our lives is shaped by the accumulation of our daily choices. Every day we choose which direction to travel on the path. Sometimes we choose in big, obvious ways, but more often it is the small, quiet moments that get us further down the road. The wide path we travel is not just one dramatic decision, but rather a series of easy choices that focus on ourselves instead of God and others. It doesn’t require reflection and offers no resistance. It is comfortable and convenient and goes along to get along. It boasts ease and pleasure instead of growth, and reaction instead of restraint. It is instantly gratifying and infinitely easier.

The narrow path, however, is walked one decision at a time and requires us to put ourselves aside and choose what would honor God. It often requires time, money, and effort we would rather spend on ourselves, but instead give to God. It calls for choices that might not be easy or popular, and involves surrender, trust, and a willingness to follow God even when the way is unclear. It demands self-reflection and improvement, constantly seeking God’s will.

Jesus Himself is the narrow gate. He has already walked the hard road for us and now walks it with us by His Spirit. The narrow way is difficult, but we never walk alone. He knows the way and walks with us, and the path leads to life.

Loving Father, Lord Jesus, Guiding Spirit,

You place before us the path that leads to life, but we are so often drawn to what is easy instead of what is right. Forgive us for the times we have gone the wrong way and chosen our own will over Yours.

Help us recognize the choices in front of us each day, and to trust You when the way feels difficult or uncertain. Strengthen us to deny ourselves and follow You. Give us the wisdom and courage to choose Your way instead of joining the crowd on the wide path, in the small and big moments. Help us to stay on the true path, and when we stumble, to get back up and keep going. Shape our lives through these decisions so that we may walk steadily with You. Guide us step by step as we follow You.

Amen.

Jesus places the choice clearly before us. The wide path feels effortless because it asks little of us. But the narrow path leads to life because it is intentional and keeps turning us back to God. Every small, faithful choice aligns our hearts a little more with God’s way. Today, focus on the path you walk. Ask yourself, “What will take me closer to God?” Choose a single spiritual discipline and commit to it. Spiritual disciplines are any practices that help us grow in our faith and relationship with God. They are tools that facilitate spiritual growth and transformation, such as prayer, meditation, study, fasting, simplicity, and service; there are many others beyond this short list. The point is to intentionally choose something that will draw you closer to God.

The good news is that we do not have to choose the entire path all at once. We simply choose the next step and take it.