Tag: narrow gate

Two Gates, Two Roads and One Big Surprise

Old Testament: Genesis 17 & 18

Poetry: Psalm 6

New Testament: Matthew 7: 13-23

Many surprises are really good surprises: birthday parties, just because flowers or gifts, snow days, finding bacon in the fridge (said my husband), a check in the mail, your daughter coming home from college 4 days early. But, the surprise in our short New Testament passage today would have to be one of, if not the total WORST surprise ever. But, that’s no place to start a good devotion – let’s save that surprise for the (fitting) end and start with the two gates. 

I am a visual learner (though not too artistic) so I made a simple little chart in my journal of the two gates in Matthew 7:13 & 14- two simple little verses with a very big lesson.

It brings to mind the repeated refrain of the desperate teenager arguing with his or her parents to be allowed to ___ (fill-in-the-blank with whatever popular but not always wise pursuit kids are into at the time), “But, everyone else is doing it!” Unfortunately, even as adults we too often strive to fit in with what everyone else is doing, saying, watching, thinking, and even being. When will we learn that “what everyone else is doing” is not a good argument for joining in but actually should raise giant red flags and make one consider reversing course immediately. MANY are on the road leading to destruction. It is popular, easy, fun, attractive, politically correct and what everyone else is doing. It is where your friends and neighbors and co-workers are and likely some family and church members, too. It is where the majority live and work and play, where entertainment and media, social and otherwise, hang out, and where influencers thrive. Why wouldn’t anyone want to join in? Just one reason. It. Leads. To.

Destruction.

Not just a bad day, not just a mistake, not just a lesson learned, but destruction, final and ultimate and forever destruction. Many are headed there now. Many are on that road. And you know them. You might be them. This popular road is also the road with the teenager (and now even younger) tragically contemplating and committing suicide. This is the road with the pregnant hopeless woman planning an abortion. This is the road that is raising way too many of our world’s children and youth. This is the road with ferocious wolves dressed up as harmless sheep. This is the road with hatred and despair and deception grotesquely mixed in amongst the glittery fun popularity. This is the overflowing road that leads to destruction.

Who will find the way out? Just. A. Few. Will I? Will you?

Remember that surprise we were saving for the end? The WORST surprise ever? Jesus said that MANY (where did we see that word recently?) who appear to know Jesus and speak in his name – who even drive out demons and perform miracles in his name – will be told by Jesus, “Away from me, you evildoers!” as he denies them entrance into the kingdom. And if you aren’t going into the kingdom the only other option is that wide slippery slope of a road that drops you straight into destruction. 

This is one of those many times in the Scriptures where I want more information to answer all my burning questions starting with, who are these (many) people? Yeah, I want names, Jesus, but if you can’t give me that, at least some more details… What denomination(s) are they? What hidden sins? Who do they believe Jesus is? Are they wrong? Is that why they are denied? What role does pride play? Are these different from the wolves in sheep clothing? They kind of seem to be “better” good and effective “Christians”- are they? Do they think they are? It seems they look really good on the outside, could something be wrong on the inside? Have they fooled even themselves? 

But the most important question is: How can I make sure I, and the ones I love and care for, are not in this group? And Jesus does give us that answer. Do the will of His Father in heaven. ONLY the people who DO the WILL of GOD will be allowed into eternal life anew in the Kingdom of God. Just wearing the Christian name is not the ticket. Merely calling Jesus Lord is not enough. Even driving out demons and performing miracles – which do appear to be convincing signs of doing the will of God – is not enough to prove one is actually doing God’s will. GOD always knows who is and who isn’t doing His Will. And Jesus isn’t fooled either. It is indeed much harder for us to see and always know who Is and who Isn’t doing the will and work of God. We are told that false Christs and false prophets and even a powerful beast of the earth will come with great signs and wonders in order to deceive. (Matthew 24 and Revelation 14).

Don’t be deceived. Don’t deceive yourself. Don’t set yourself up to receive the worst surprise in the world. Don’t join them on that wide road. Don’t let your last words be, “But everyone else was doing it.” Don’t be tricked into believing you have to stay on that wide road if that is where you are now. Get off. Change your course. Change your destiny. Fight against that loud crowd and find your way to the unpopular narrow road.  Do His Will. And in order to DO that – you need to study to know Who God is and what His Will actually is so you won’t be tricked into thinking you are good and safe and got your ticket in. Be one of the few heading toward the narrow gate doing God’s will. It is the only way to life. 

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you think makes the wide road so popular? 
  2. Do you find the narrow road appealing? Why or why not? 
  3. Which road do you think you are on now? What evidence do you have? Is this where you want to stay? Why or why not?
  4. With the information you have right now, what do you think doing God’s will would look like for you today? Are you doing it? How can you learn more about what God’s will is for you? What’s the danger in not learning more about God’s will?
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See Clearly

Matthew 7

January 7

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1 – NIV) Its a loaded statement. We don’t like to feel judged and told that we are wrong, so we won’t judge and tell other people they are wrong. And so this single verse is used to justify, and even demand, blind acceptance of others and all their deeds. You are free to be gay – I have no right to judge. You are free to have the right to an abortion – I have no right to judge. You are free to believe you are a woman when God made you a man – I have no right to judge. You are free to hook up with anyone anytime you want – I have no right to judge. And that is what some would have us believe a good Christian should do. Let them be them and accept them for it. Their way is just as good as my way.

Only trouble is – the rest of this passage continues.

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2 – NIV) If you use a yard stick to measure yourself but a meter stick to measure others, they will always be coming up short. It is not a fair and right judgment or measure. It is skewed in your favor to make others look less than. They just don’t measure up to your greatness.

Here’s a little true story example – I have been known to be put out and upset when someone I am waiting for is running late. How could they inconvenience me by not operating more according to my clock and my time schedule? Only trouble is, yesterday I was caught by a train (it happens here in northern Indiana – the crossroads of America) and I didn’t show up exactly when someone else was expecting me, but of course my tardiness was excusable, because it wasn’t my fault, I didn’t know a train was going to be coming, etc…. It is not my right to condemn, chastise, be upset with others if I am not willing to be measured in the same way. Late is late. And, in actuality, it’s not my clock or their clock that really matters anyway – but what does God’s clock or measuring stick or word say? That is what matters.

The passage continues, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the PLANK in your own eye?…You hypocrite, FIRST take the plank out of your own eye, AND THEN you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3, 5 – NIV). If a brother has a speck in his eye and there was something loving you could do to help him get that irritating, painful thing out, wouldn’t you want to? Wouldn’t God want you to? But, how much help could I be in this delicate operation if my own eye has a beam sticking out of it? I can’t see clearly to help others out of sin when I am swimming in it myself. That sin in my own life is first priority. I must deal with it. Get rid of it. It may hurt like crazy to pull that beam out – but until I do, my usefulness to help guide and correct others is gone. Pull it out. Heal. See Clearly. Then, I can help others, with the same word of God, same guidelines, same measuring stick and same mercy and compassion that saved me.

It is very true I am not the judge and the jury. God is and He will share that job with His Son. But I DO have a responsibility to watch myself closely, to hold myself accountable to the Word of God, and to be very aware of what is happening around me – including the sin that so easily entangles.

All paths are not created equal. Some – the narrow ones that not many people are willing to stay on – lead to life. Others – the wide, easy, popular ones where the majority are – leads to destruction. It would be foolish of me to not be judging which path I am on at all times. See clearly the two paths.

We are told, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). This will require VERY keen eyesight and insight. We will have to be wise in judging what may at first seem right and true but in fact is cleverly disguised, dangerous, deadly lies which are leading many down the wrong path. Watch out! See clearly those who are deceiving and being deceived. Blind acceptance will take you somewhere you do not want to go.

Make sure you are not sitting in the house of the foolish builder as the wind picks up. Many in that house have heard the word of God. They may profess Christianity and call him Lord and even seek to serve him. But they are not acting any different from the world. They are not doing the will of God. They have grown comfortable with the plank in their eye. They have befriended the wolf in sheep’s clothing. They have failed to put Jesus’ words into practice. They are on the wide path approaching the wide gate that leads to destruction.

Get out and move to the house of the wise builder before the downpour comes! Hear Jesus and listen. Do what he says. Take the plank out of your eye. See clearly. Help your brother take the speck out of his. Don’t make friends with the wolf just because he dressed up like a sheep.

See clearly. All paths are not the same. All houses will not stand. All choices are not okay. All churches will not be saved. Some will lead to life. Some will lead to death. Use the same measuring stick – God’s Word and the teachings of Jesus. And put it into practice! See clearly. Judge roads and gates and houses and wolves wisely. Your life truly depends on this.

-Marcia Railton

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. What was the difference between the wise and foolish builder? What fate awaited each? How can you put into practice the words of Jesus from Matthew 7 today?
  2. When we were introduced to John the Baptist and to Jesus we were told what they were preaching – see Matthew 3:2 and 4:17 to remember. Are any lessons from Matthew 7 connected to this preaching theme? If so, how?
  3. Is it easier for you to see your own sins or the sins of others? What advice does Jesus give? Pray to see clearly your own sins first so you can deal with them.
  4. How do you feel when you read Matthew 7:21-23? How does it relate to the rest of the chapter? How can we live now to avoid hearing these words from Jesus?
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