“Enter by the narrow gate. 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." --Matthew 7:13-14
This verse has always been one that I have tried to model my life after. When facing hard decisions and trying to understand why life seems to be so unfair, this is one of the first verses that pops into my head. It seems to be a reminder that this generation really needs.
Jesus uses the metaphor of a road to explain the choice that we have to make in our everyday lives. He talks about how wide the gate and broad the road is that leads to destruction. Many people follow this road because it is easier. He then explains that the gate is straight and the road is narrow when it leads to life. Not very many people find this road.
As Christians, we know the way that we are supposed to take, but sometimes we do not take the right path because it is not as easy. For example, it would be much easier to do nothing when someone does something that goes against God’s word than to actually stand up. Not doing something is making a choice. Not standing up is the same as choosing the wide road, and it will lead to destruction.
Every time that I read this verse I am reminded of the movie "Facing the Giants."The scene it reminds me of is comical at first when the coaches are explaining to the boys that they cannot take the easy way out. They are trying to explain that the way to giving their very best on field will not be easy and it will not always be obvious. This scene ends with a member of the football team doing the death crawl the whole length of the football field while he is blindfolded. He has no idea how far he is going or has gone. The coach is on the ground yelling at him “Give me your best. I want your very best!” When he reaches the end of the field he collapses and says “I cannot do it anymore. That is all I have. Where am I?” Then the coach responds that he is in the end zone.
God wants our very best and it is never going to be easy for us to give it to Him. He wants us to be an example for the outside world. Even in a "Christian" environment we are faced with the decision of taking the easy way out and not standing up for what we believe or standing up for our God. I face this every day. I try my best and I hope that I am taking the narrow way. Sometimes I feel like I am going in blind, but I cannot wait for the day when I look up into my Father's face and ask where I am and He responds, “You’re in the end zone.”
