Matthew 7:13-14
Key Verse: 7:13-14

ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE
Matthew 7:13-14
Key Verse: 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."

 Welcome to the Early Spring Symposium. Today's passage is a part of Jesus' Sermon on the
Mount. Jesus teaches us two distinctive roads we can take in this passage. Let's compare them
and follow Jesus' teaching. May God bless all symposium speakers to enter through the narrow
gate so that they can have a great life that leads to eternal life. I pray that Jesus may follow you
in your journey of the narrow road and shine his light upon you.

Life is like a journey. There are many gates in the world like Watergate, Bill Gate,
pardon gate, travel gate, golden gate, iron gate, floodgate, University gate, life gate, and stadium
gate. But there are two gates to enter through in our life journey. Whether we like it or not, we
have to enter through one of the gates-wide or narrow gate. The starting point is the same but
the ending point is different. There are two possible roads to take when you are on Rt. 1 near
IHOP. If you turn right to the 95 South, you will end up in sunny Florida. If you turn left to the
95 North, you will end up in Maine. In the same way which gate you enter through will decide
your future. It is like choosing a major will decide your future career. Therefore, it is extremely
important for us to choose the right road by entering through the right gate. The question is
which gate is the right gate. Let's think about the wide gate first. Let's read verse 13. "Enter
through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and
many enter through it." The wide gate is linked to the broad road. Let's talk about the broad
roads. It is a 10-lane highway. It is straight and paved and smooth. It looks fun. Everybody is
going through speeding, switching lanes. Everybody is in a hurry. Personally I like the broad
road. In reality many enter through it. This gate symbolizes the worldly way of life without God.
This is a popular way of life. Broad road means a sinful life without God's salvation. People who
are not saved by Jesus travel this road. What's wrong with the wide gate? It gives a false sense of
security to those who enter through it. Maybe the gate was decorated with a big welcome sign
and many promises to have a fun-filled life without any pain.
But this gate ends in destruction though it was easy to enter. Here destruction means
eternal death caused by sin. The problem is that the majority enters through the wide gate. Many
people don't know that they are in the wrong road until they come to the end of their journey.
The majority does not mean that it is the right way. For example, taking drugs is popular among
college students but it is not right way. Many students failed to graduate. Many people divorce
but it is not right way. People in Noah's time enjoyed sinful life without God. They enjoyed
pleasure-seeking life. But when the Flood came, they were drowned. They were deceived by the
false promise of the wide gate lifestyle. The wide gate looks promising and attractive like the
Television program "Temptation Island." But it becomes narrower and narrower and people will
fall into the cliff in the end. Party life looks promising to students but there is a risk. When we
have a wide gate life, we experience a glimpse of destruction. We feel guilty and God's wrath
upon us. Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:2a, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this
world." It is easy to follow the crowd. It is easy to follow the pattern of the world. But this is a
highway to hell. I pray that we may not follow the pattern of the world but follow Jesus.
Now let's look at the narrow gate. Let's read verse 14. "But small is the gate and narrow
the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." The main characteristic of the narrow gate is
that it leads to the narrow road. The narrow road is rough, unpaved, less traveled, and curved. It
leads to life and only a few find it. It is not a popular road. Many people think that the heaven is
crowded with so many people in it. But that's not true. According to Jesus, only a few finds it.
According to the Gallup poll, many Americans think that they might go to the heaven if they die
today. To them the heaven is the place where nice people go after they die. They think that it is a
retirement home. But Jesus teaches that only the narrow gate leads us to heaven. Here the narrow
gate indicates Jesus himself. There are two ways either follow Jesus or follow the world. There is
no undecided major in life. In John 10:9 Jesus said, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me
will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture." In this road we find salvation. Jesus
is our Savior. He enriches our life. Jesus is the gate to the kingdom of God. He is the gate to have
a great life. Jesus said in John 14:6, " `I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me." Jesus is the only way to eternal life and the truth. Those who
choose the narrow gate are the wise. Though they look foolish to the world, they are wise to
God. I never regret that I followed the narrow of Jesus' cross though sometimes the wide road
looked attractive. The cross of Jesus was my source of joy and strength. I found life in Jesus'
cross. If I have to choose again, I will choose the narrow gate again.
Jesus invited everyone to follow his way which was the narrow gate in Mark 8:34, "If
anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." This is
the way of life. Self-denial and cross of mission are essence to follow Jesus. Jesus denied his
human desire to have an easy life and took up his cross to obey God's will.  In the end God
crowned him with honor and glory. When we follow Jesus, he is with us and helps us become
strong men and women of God. In the past Jennifer was lonely. But when she followed Jesus,
God sent her many spiritual brothers and sisters. Even God sent her a personal tutor. She is not
lonely in her journey through the narrow door. Folake asked her boss to let her take off on
Sunday to attend Sunday worship and her boss said, "No problem." Kristi felt like giving up her
struggle to live by faith but Jesus helped her to keep on struggling. She began to attend the Holy
Club Fellowship. Do not try to avoid the cross. Pray to become a strong person in God. Once we
enter through the narrow gate, God gives us strength to overcome all kinds of trials and
temptations. We experience the heavenly joy when we follow Jesus. We feel love of God when
we follow Jesus.  Still, there are only a few who want to follow Jesus, mainly because it demands
decision-making. They have to give up easy-going worldly life. So only a few find the road that
leads to life. Those who share testimonies are the few who find the road to life. But there is a
time limit. Jesus said in Luke 13:24, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,
because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."  When is too late? It is too late
when the gate is closed. Some young people think, "I am too young to follow Jesus. I want to
enjoy the world for a while and when I am old and then I want to follow Jesus." What if he dies
by an accident, it means that the gate is closed to him. Or I will switch the road after I enjoy the
wide road for a while. But remember this road is one way road. We can not switch the road once
we are in. We cannot come to Maine from Florida at the end of our journey. We have to make
every effort to enter through the narrow gate because wide gate looks cool and attractive. I know
all of you are struggling to follow Jesus, the narrow gate. You will be misunderstood and
rejected by the people who follow the wide gate. But don't be discouraged. Jesus understands
your struggle and he is willing to assist you.  Only the narrow gate leads to eternal life. The way
of Jesus is narrow gate and thorny-the way of cross. Let's accept Jesus' way and enter through
the narrow gate. May God bless you to follow Jesus' way until you reach your final destination,
the heavenly kingdom. Let's read verses 13-14.
 

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