When a man pulls a gun on another man, he’d better have a reason, a mighty good one that he’s mighty sure of. A gun isn’t a toy. It’s nothing to be worn for show or to be flashed around, showing off. When you put a hand on a gun you can die.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Man From the Broken Hills)
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
–Galatians 6:14 (NKJV)
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There is much clamor today that all ways lead to God and heaven. That is contrary to the Bible; the Bible does not teach universalism, for there is only one way to God–through Jesus Christ. It is not an easy way to find for entry is the result and reward of struggle; the struggle to find Jesus.
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
–Luke 13:24 (NKJV)
The word “strive” is where get our word “agony.” Barclay says that, “the struggle to enter must be so intense that it can be described as an agony of soul and spirit.” Now that is not something we hear or see much in our churches today. Tiny Tim and his “Tip-Toe Through the Tulips” would not be a theme of the person in agony trying to enter the narrow gate. It is not “la-di-da” all the day long.
When is the day of salvation? It is now, therefore, a person must seize the opportunity now to enter the gate. The gate that is Jesus Christ for salvation is only through Him. Dietrich Bonhoeffer preached about “cheap grace.” Gary Collins wrote a superb book, “Beyond Easy Believism.” Many will seek, but there are few who strive. “There is no ease, no finality in the Christian life. A man must ever be going forward or necessarily he goes backward.” (William Barclay)
Jesus said that “many…will seek to enter.” But then those words, “and will not be able.” Too harsh for our sensitive, enlightened ears? Do you think you can actually just slide into heaven? “It is a hard matter to get to heaven, and a point that will not be gained without a great deal of care and pains, of difficulty and diligence.” (Matthew Henry)
Look around you, are people “striving”. Men are lazy-seeking; they do not wish a laborious striving. Work is hard, whining is easier. Listen, heaven is not a right. It came at a price. An early church hermit said this about the gate, “When Christ mentioned the narrow door, he meant controlling your thoughts and eliminating your own will, for the sake of God.” (Ammonas)
Legalism?! Not hardly. Strive, I tell you again, strive. “We must strive with God in prayer, wrestle as Jacob, strive against sin and Satan; we must strive in every duty of religion, strive with our own hearts. Be in agony, strive as those that run for the prize, excite and exert ourselves to the utmost.” (Matthew Henry)
I see little agony. How many stay around the altar (remember the tarrying services?)? We say our lunch prayers and our evening prayer but seldom wrestle with God over something. Look again at your walk–what path are you on? Too many don’t seek the gate, much less strive when they find it. “Their desires are cold, and their endeavors feeble, and there is no strength or steadiness in their resolutions; and thus they come short, and lose the prize, because they do not press forward.” (Matthew Henry)