The Challenge of the Difficult
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will
seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:24.
A strait gate means a gate difficult to enter. By this illustration
Christ showed how hard it is for men and women to leave the world and the
attractions it holds, and heartily and lovingly obey the commandments of
God. The wide gate is easy to enter. Entrance through it does not call for
the restrictions which are painful to the human heart. Self-denial and
self-sacrifice are not seen in the broad way. There depraved appetite and
natural inclinations find abundant room. There may be seen self-indulgence,
pride, envy, evil surmisings, love of money, self-exaltation.
Said Christ, "Strive"--agonize--"to enter in. . . ." We must feel our
continual dependence upon God and the great weakness of our own wisdom and
our own judgment and strength, and then depend wholly upon Him who has
conquered the foe in our behalf, because He pitied our weakness and knew we
should be overcome and perish if He did not come to our help. . . . Think
not that by any easy or common effort you can win the eternal reward. You
have a wily foe upon your track. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit
with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne" (Rev. 3:21). Here is the battle to overcome as Christ
has overcome. His life of temptation, of trial, of toil and conflict, is
before us for us to imitate. We may make efforts in our own strength, but
not succeed. But when we fall all helpless and suffering and needy upon the
Rock of Christ, feeling in our inmost soul that our victory depends upon His
merits, that all our efforts of themselves without the special help of the
great Conqueror will be without avail, then Christ would send every angel
out of glory to rescue us from the power of the enemy rather than that we
should fall.
We need to see that the way is narrow, and the gate strait. But as we
pass through the strait gate, the wideness is without limit.
>From That I May Know Him - Page 304
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