The Narrow Way
Picture this there’s a house where all the doors are small and narrow. The location of the house is perfect ten minutes from work, best school district and the nicest neighbors in the world. This house has everything one could ask for except the doors are all too narrow including the exterior doors. They are so inconvenient a lot of things just don’t fit through them.
So now you are forced to choose, you can get rid of the things that don’t fit through the door or find another house that will accommodate everything that you want. This is a dilemma that many Christians face when it comes to faith in Christ. In society today we are accustom to being accommodated. When we go to a restaurant we can have our food prepared a certain way or now with technology the way it is we can watch movies instantly with the click of a button on a remote. Some of us unknowingly have this mentality when it comes to Christ. We want Christ to accommodate us with what we want not accommodate Him. Jesus is preparing us a house
John 14:2 King James Version (KJV)
[highlight type=”light”]In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.[/highlight]
But the doors to get in are too narrow
Matthew 7:14 King James Version (KJV)
[highlight type=”light”]Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.[/highlight]
When Jesus chose his disciples he told them to drop everything and follow him. He wasn’t one for excuses
Matthew 8:21-23 King James Version (KJV)
[highlight type=”light”]And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.[/highlight]
In order to move in with Christ we will have to fit through the doors and that means leaving things behind
Matthew 19:21-22 King James Version (KJV)
[highlight type=”light”]Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.[/highlight]
This young man had a deep love for his possessions and that love wouldn’t fit through the doors. We all have to evaluate our own selves and see what we are willing to get rid of for Christ.
Ephesians 4:25-31 King James Version (KJV)
[highlight type=”light”]Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [/highlight]
On the other hand you can avoid making this choice we can find a house that will fit everything we desire. Where the doors are big enough to fit everyone.
Matthew 7:13 King James Version (KJV)
[highlight type=”light”]Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:[/highlight]
The majority will choose the house with the wider doors where there is no struggle, no fight, and everything is so convenient. When all the bags we carry will fit easily through those doors. There’s no need to change or leaving anything behind. This house is so deceiving it looks great on the outside. On the inside the foundation is cracking, roof leaking, electrical is unsafe and there are no fire alarms. The outcome will not be too pleasant.
When we look at religion today. There are so many doors. We need to ask ourselves, “Are we worshiping according to convenience or according to the narrow way?”