Are You Narrow Minded?
By George Stroh
July 30, 2012
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
Before trusting Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord I thought, if there was really a hell, that only a very few infamous people would end up there. And it was hard to imagine that anyone would suffer in a literal hell forever. After all, even an evil man like Adolf Hitler must have had some redeeming goodness. I wrongly believed that the vast majority of people, including myself of course, while not perfect, are basically good enough to go to heaven.
But the truth is that very few are justified by faith in Christ, saved from God's wrath and will have eternal life in heaven; For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Unfortunately, many have been deceived into believing that because they once asked Jesus into their heart, walked down an isle or repeated a salvation prayer, that they are Christians. They are convinced that they are going to heaven even though they live lives that are indistinguishable from the unbelievers. They think they are saved, but have instead entered through the wide gate and are walking on the broad road toward hell. These will stand before the Lord and be shocked to learn that they are not justified and that they will not be entering the kingdom of heaven; Not everyone who says to me "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23)
True saving faith is demonstrated not only by what we say, but by what we do; But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18) No one is saved by their works. Salvation is by faith alone in the finished work of Christ. But saving faith, if it is real, will produce good works pleasing to God.
The Apostle Paul said that we ought to examine ourselves to be sure that we have not been deceived about our salvation; Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?
Have you entered through the narrow gate? If so, you will be also walking on the narrow road that leads to eternal life in heaven. Maranatha!
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