Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it.”

I use to read this scripture and interpret it this way: “A bunch of people are taking the easy route. They look like they’re enjoying life and have found a way through life without any consequences, but just watch because it’s all going to end in destruction. Meanwhile, those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus are going to trudge through this narrow gate (life) with great difficulty, but in the sweet by and by we’ll have eternal rewards in heaven.”

WRONG!

People may have found the path of least resistance, but that does not mean it’s easy. It just means they are following the crowd.

In verse 14 narrow means “compressed or contracted”(Strong’s). When we choose to follow Christ, we are choosing a gate that is narrow and it is compressed, because once we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, we are choosing His ways above ours. Here’s the cool thing. By choosing His way we receive an abundant life! The word “life” in this scripture is “zoe” in the Greek. It means:

life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.(Strong’s)

YES!!! When we choose the narrow gate, we have a life that is active and vigorous and blessed even in THIS world. We get to co-labor with God by praying for people and watching them recover. We get to lead people into a vibrant, amazing relationship with Jesus, and we get to have some of the most incredible friendships along the way! I have met THE most amazing people on the mission field and had the most incredible experiences because of my relationship with Christ. No, when you choose the narrow gate, you get the biggest life!

Questions to ask yourself…

  1. What road have you chosen?
  2. What are some things in your life you could change in order to experience the zoe life?

COMPOSED BY: LISA DOOLEY