Tuesday 25 February 2020

Wide door, narrow door

Let's get the picture in Matthew 7:13, 14 clear in our minds first. We are thinking probably of gates into a walled city. Think of a large gate and a small gate. Or think of a narrow gap between two mountains. Perhaps a turnstile or a kissing gate, if you know what that is, is the most helpful to think of. Or do you know what a wicket gate is? A small door within a large door. You used to see people coming out of prison coming through such a door.
The one door is a wide door. It is easily entered. It needs no thought and can easily be found. This gate or door stands for all of life outside Christ. By nature we have all come through the wide gate. You don’t have to find it you just stream in with all the rest.
The point about the other door is that it is a narrow one. The first steps in religion are difficult. To get through a narrow gate you need to leave all your baggage behind and squeeze through.
The gate is not only narrow but it is not obvious - few even find it. That is to say that, in one sense, it is not easy even to understand how to be a Christian. Unless it is revealed to a person, there is no hope. Thought and effort are necessary.

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