Our text for today speaks to this generation that is consciously walking the trail of error, and conveys specific warnings for every believer that is in the contention for heaven. Contention? Yes, because we have the responsibility to make our calling and election sure.

Enter through the narrow gate because the wide gate and broad path is the way that leads to destruction—nearly everyone chooses that crowded road! The narrow gate and the difficult way leads to eternal life—so few even find it!”

“Constantly be on your guard against phony prophets. They come disguised as lambs, appearing to be genuine, but on the inside they are like wild, ravenous wolves! You can spot them by their actions, for the fruits of their character will be obvious. You won’t find sweet grapes hanging on a thorn bush, and you’ll never pick good fruit from a tumbleweed. So if the tree is good, it will produce good fruit; but if the tree is bad, it will bear only rotten fruit and deserves to be cut down and burned. You’ll know them by the obvious fruit of their lives and ministries.”

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into heaven’s kingdom. It is only those who persist in doing the will of my heavenly Father. On the day of judgment many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, don’t you remember us? Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we cast out demons and do many miracles in your name?’ But I will have to say to them, ‘Go away from me, you lawless rebels! I’ve never been joined to you!’

“Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation. When the rains fell and the flood  came, with fierce winds beating upon his house, it stood firm because of its strong foundation.

“But everyone who hears my teaching and does not apply it to his life can be compared to a foolish man who built his house on sand. When it rained and rained and the flood came, with wind and waves beating upon his house, it collapsed and was swept away.” Matthew 7:13-27 (TPT)

Turning first to the gates, what is wide should be obvious and easy to see, right? It speaks clearly to things we accept without question and assume to be okay more so as everybody is going in through it. This is following the crowd, without question. How many things have we accepted and do in our lives without questions? How much more when you have sweet-talking merchandising teachers/ leaders that tell you everything will be alright, going the easy way!

Contrast this with the narrow gate hardly sought and therefore not easy to see because of the discipline required and pain of searching out! Yet the responsibility to:

1. find the narrow gate and the narrow way, and
2. discern and decide to follow the narrow way and not the broad is yours.

It is a choice you alone must make. And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 (TPT)

There is so much greed and mammon mongering that sells easily because of the struggle to survive the hardships in the society. People including believers compromise their virtues, yielding to false teachings with the promise of monetary relief. You cannot make heaven that way. This is the time to check what you have believed and what you are holding on to, so you are not cast out of the way. So be made strong even in your weakness by lifting up your tired hands in prayer and worship. And strengthen your weak knees, for as you keep walking forward on God’s paths all your stumbling ways will be divinely healed! Hebrews 12:12-13 (TPT)

Shalom