Spiritual Growth Lessons
from Christian Ambassadors
Lesson 20, November, 2002
Strive to
Enter at the Strait Gate
by Sharon K. Griffee
King Solomon tells us in Proverbs 16:25, that there
is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. He was
speaking about the pride of life, of those who walk according to the course of
this world. It is inevitable, anyone determined to have their own way, defying
the spiritual laws of God, is headed for a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
(NIV) - Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
With the fall come feelings of disbelief, hurt, confusion,
anger or even wrath. Tormented with a series of negative thoughts, they no
longer are sure about anyone or anything. From this helpless position of
uncertainty, they don’t know where to turn or what to do next. All they really
know is that they are sick and tired of winding up in the same place; locked in
a prison of their own making.
In this hopeless state, cowering in the darkness of
sin and despair, along comes a Christian, offering a brand new life through
Christ. That life can sound mighty appealing to someone on the bottom rung of
life’s ladder. Desperate for the misery to stop, a person in this position is
willing to try just about anything to ease their pain. They grasp at Christianity;
mistakenly thinking it is the fastest
and easiest cure.
So, the scenario begins: Standing in the dark world
outside the Kingdom of God, looking in at the blessings promised, the sinner is
attracted to that new life in Christ. Who wouldn’t want to be saved and given
another chance to live a life of victory in the here and now? In short, who wouldn’t
want to trade in the “old man” for the “new man”? Sounds like a pretty good
deal, this Christian life.
The scenario continues: Just accept Jesus as Savior,
repent of your sins and bask in God’s unconditional love. Floating on a
spiritual high, the new Christian imagines the promise of being transported
quickly into God’s Kingdom. Just pledge your life to Jesus, and then be whisked
away into the Father’s angelic computer lab, where the “old man” computer chip
is removed and the “new man” computer chip is popped in place. With our “new
nature” we are immediately qualified to live happily ever after in the Kingdom
of God.
End of scenario -- back to reality: The “new life” God has waiting for us doesn’t come about simply by switching out the old computer chip for a brand new one. Entry into the Kingdom of God can never be automatic, but is the result and the reward of a struggle. In the New Testament we find Paul encouraging his disciples to remain true to the faith, because of the struggle or strenuous effort they would be going through. Their very endurance, patience, and faith would be tested.
Acts 14:22
(KJV) - “...We must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
The struggle to enter into the Kingdom of God is so
intense, it has been described as an agony of the soul and the spirit. Jesus
tells us in Luke that we must strive or labor fervently to enter in at
the strait gate; that narrow gate, which leads to life. If we do not put forth
every effort to enter in the way Jesus tells us to enter, there is the danger
we might be shut out of the Kingdom.
Luke 13:23-25
(KJV) - “Then said one unto him,
Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at
the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not
be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the
door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord,
Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence
ye are...”
The person who asked Jesus the question, “Are there few that be saved?” must have
seen that his committed followers were rapidly dropping off. Those who once
followed Jesus with such eagerness were already giving up the effort. They
stopped striving to enter into the Kingdom. As at other times, when the
teachings of Jesus became too hard, the people turned away.
John 6:66
(NIV) - From this time many of
his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
We need to be honest with ourselves. If we are
having trouble staying on the narrow path and living under the Lordship of
Jesus Christ now, how do we expect to live under the authority and rule of
Jesus in his Kingdom? If we are too impatient to stay on the narrow path now,
allowing Jesus time to cleanse us of all of our unrighteousness, then we are
losing out to one of the basic conflicts of the Kingdom; the conflict or
struggle of making “proper choice” and being firm in that which God has spoken.
I John 1:6-7
(KJV) - If we say that we have
fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But
if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The “proper choice” for the Christian is always the
same, the narrow path of cleansing. We either progress forward into the light,
to be continually cleansed by the blood of Jesus, or we will find ourselves
going backwards into the darkness.
To walk successfully in the Kingdom of God, we must
accept the principles of God in our heart and mind. We must settle it in our
heart that this strait and narrow path is not something we are trying to follow – we are following it! Only those who are
willing to carefully count the cost will be able to enter into the strait gate.
The cost of entering is our very life. It’s time to move and press forward as
never before, if we are to lay hold of the Kingdom of God. I won’t lie to you.
Just the thought of moving and pressing forward to lay hold of a “new life” in
Christ creates tension.
As one inmate confessed, “I think we all know what
is demanded of us from God. But, a lot of us are still stuck in the middle. What I’m saying is that I have
found myself like that. I know that I may be able to fool this guy or that guy,
but I know I can’t fool God, and I know I can’t fool you either, Miss Sharon.
I’m feeling guilty because of how disobedient I’ve been to my Lord, and if I
was really grateful, I’d be a stronger soldier for Christ.”
Like it or not, there is conflict in entering God’s
Kingdom. This conflict or struggle is not with the world and it’s not with what
is going on outside of us. As this inmate so honestly confessed, the conflict
is internal. It has to do with what is going on inside of us, in our
mind and in our heart. It is the pressure of making the “proper choice”. As I
described earlier, “It is an agony of the soul and spirit.” Are we willing to
let go of something we hold valuable, even our very lives, to lay hold of the
Kingdom of God?
In the midst of all this pressure, we may find ourselves
crying out, “Oh God, why do we have to make a choice?” We have to make a choice
because God is looking for sons and daughters. From the last Adam, God is
bringing forth a seed, sons and daughters who can make the proper choice to
walk with Jesus Christ, the new Adam. Where the old Adam failed, this new one
has succeeded. Glory to God in the highest! God is bringing forth spiritually
mature sons and daughters who will shine as lights in this dark world.
Isaiah 60:2
(KJV) - For, behold, the darkness
shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise
upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Questions for
Personal or Group Study:
1. If you are having trouble surrendering your life
to Jesus, is it because you are still waiting for God to magically transform
you into a “new person”?
2. If transformation doesn’t happen magically what
is your responsibility to become a “new person”?
3. What is the role of faith in God, repentance from
sin, trust in His Word, and surrender to His will? (See: Romans 12:1-2; John
4:23-24)