Scripture: Luke 13: Verse 24
As Jesus went through the cities and villages teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem, he taught that the kingdom of God is likened to a grain of mustard, the least of all seeds, when it is sown grows into a great tree, and the fowls of the air lodged in branches of the tree; and that the kingdom of God is likened to leaven, which is small in quantity, but is of a rising and spreading quality.
Someone in the crowd who had observed the miracles and heard the parables of the kingdom of God, asked Jesus: “Lord are there few that be saved?” Jesus answered not only to the man who asked the question but to the world and said: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able.”
To strive is to contend with the world that opposes the salvation of Jesus Christ. To strive is to press on through all difficulties, trials and tribulations. It is like a run in a race toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3: 14)
You keep your eyes fixed on the goal in the strait and narrow place. You exert and excite yourself to the utmost. You turn neither to the right nor to the left. To do so, you may lose ground to other runners; you may run into another lane and obstruct another runner and lose sight of the finish line.
On the other hand, others would choose the gate that is wide open, broad, carnal and lead to destruction and ruin but would like to enter the straight gate and it would be too late when the door is shut.
The straight gate is Jesus. Christ said : “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” (Jn: 10:9) He is the gateway to heaven which gives you hope to enter into the coming kingdom and glory of God.
