Narrow is the Gate

I grew up to the gospel of doing so much just to ensure one doesn’t miss heaven. God was described to us as a taskmaster who is more interested in keeping the rules than the wellbeing of the labourers. It all began to look like a very tough endeavour and we were always extra careful to ask for forgiveness every day before we slept to be sure if anything happened, we made it to God. 

This line of thought was frequently fueled by the scripture that says narrow is the way to heaven

“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.” Matt 7:13-14

This has made us conclude narrow means it is a difficult task and as such will require our labour and every effort not to miss out on it. This here was a figurative description of entering into heaven by Jesus. He was teaching them about what was to come, what it’d mean to be saved, and how exactly to be saved. 

These were people who believed in many ways to ensure God was pleased. They believed in their good deeds, almsgiving, and sacrifices but here is Jesus coming to show the only way that man will be saved. 

This was the same thing John referenced (John 10:10) when he said others have come before me but they are all thieves. He is the gate to the sheep. The description is about a person not about the conditions man is subjected to to gain entrance, but that the entrance is not one with a substitute. He is the gate! 

This is saying the narrowness is not in that which you picture in your mind as one very small door we must all struggle to enter into but it is in that no other means to enter but through Him. The narrowness is in the means of entrance not in the size of the entrance. 

“Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”. John 14:6 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Narrowness is a figurative word to mean there is no other means to enter and not that it is now difficult to enter. In fact, with Jesus, it became easy for a man to enter where he never had the opportunity to speak with the Father. 

“Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. Heb 4:16

You don’t come boldly when your mind is set on a narrow gate where you have to compete with fellow “believers” to be the lucky one. 

Hope you get it.

Be Innovated,

Olufemi Ibitoye