Main Passage: Matthew 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.”

Core Message: Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount in the book of Matthew by presenting humanity with two paths: the wide road that leads to destruction, and the narrow road that leads to life. God is drawing a clear line of distinction, urging us to make a definitive choice to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only gate to everlasting life. The consequences of choosing the wrong spiritual path are eternal, making the decision of which road to follow the most important one we face in our lives.

Finding the Gate: Humility and Repentance

The narrow gate is often overlooked by many for various reasons. Some may even believe they are walking with the Lord on the right path when that is not, in fact, the case. It is crucial to make sure we know the way to find the narrow gate.

• Difficulty in Discovery: Many people bypass the narrow gate because they are unwilling to admit they are lost. The heart of a prideful person will never seek directions to the narrow gate.
• The Need for Discernment: We must break through the constant noise of the world around us (i.e. social media and current trends) that try to redefine what is right and what is wrong. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of God’s Word amidst ever-changing ideologies.
• The Key is Repentance: Repentance is the necessary key to enter the gate. It is the opposite of justifying, or making excuses, for sin. True repentance is seeing the wrong-doing, humbly confessing our sins, turning away from it, and saying, "Lord, I need you." In doing this, we allow God to cleanse and deliver us.

Entering the Gate: The Lordship of Christ

Jesus Christ is the true Gate to Heaven (John 10:9). We must not just look at the gate or approach it, but enter it, which involves surrender.

• Salvation is by Him Alone: Salvation is not earned by our own good deeds, merit, or goodness. Only Jesus' sacrifice is acceptable to God, and it is by that sacrifice that we are able to come under the covering of His righteousness unto salvation.
• Surrender to His Lordship: Entering the gate is more than a single emotional moment or prayer; it is a decision to let go of our own ways and surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ. This means letting Him have His will and His way in your life and continuously walking with the Lord.
• The Deceit of the Wide Road: The wide road is enticing because it promises success, accolades, and allows for self-direction. However, Proverbs 14:12 warns about entering onto the wrong road, stating that "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."

Walking the Narrow Road: The Culture of Heaven

Once entered, the Christian life is a lifelong journey on the narrow road, marked by transformation and victory.

• Lifelong Journey: The narrow road is a journey of victory after victory and glory after glory, where Christ lives inside of us, helping us to overcome obstacles we could never break through alone.
• Adopting a New Culture: We must leave behind our ‘old culture’ (i.e. the selfish attitudes and worries that come from valuing the things of the world above the things of God) and adopt the culture of heaven. Our first response to any problem must be prayer, and our focus must shift to seeking the Kingdom of God first (Matthew 6:33) by setting our minds and goals on things above in all areas of our lives. 
• Holiness for the Sake of Others: We seek holiness and confess sin diligently (keeping ‘short accounts’ with God), not just for ourselves, but because we also do not want to hinder our brothers and sisters in Christ on their journey of walking with the Lord. Our disciplined walk is a light and an example to the world.

Next Step: Ask yourself - What old ways must go today? Let us humbly enter the narrow gate, ridding ourselves of our old ways and enter into the lordship of Jesus Christ!