This essay continues a sequence. Read the previous one here.
Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
— KJV, Matt 7:13-14
The Word is “good news”, but it is also very strict. Don’t be deceived.
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What Is “Strait”?
Strait means narrow. The Word is referring to something specific. Something strict; that does not admit of variations.
It is a path that is not defined by human opinions, but by the Laws of Creation.
Enter Ye In At The Strait Gate
We must make the personal decision to enter into the gate to life. But the gate is too strait to admit excess baggage.
Our goal should be the humble and active alignment with His Will (ref. “Act To Experience To Know“). Other aspirations are excess baggage.
We should study The Word of Christ personally, independently, and experientially, and not become reliant on the “extras” comprised of traditional interpretations and church doctrines (ref. “‘Knowing Of’ Is Not Knowing“).
Belief out of habit does not contain sufficient energy to get us through the gate (ref. “False Faiths, Part 1“).
The search for material comfort and “prosperity gospels” impedes entry (ref. “We Don’t Understand The Word, Part 2“).
Some are looking for solutions to mundane problems. This is not wrong, but when we divorce this search from the desire for self improvement and spiritual knowledge we block the gate (ref. “God Is Neither Superman, Nor Santa“, “Praise and Worship: Much Ado About Nothing?“)
Some people want to outsource responsibility for their decisions to the Creator, calling this “faith” and “surrender”. This is spiritual laziness, which cannot grant entry (ref. “Act To Experience To Know“).
The decision to enter the strait gate is to embark on an active life of selfless love and it requires a leap of faith, because it is so different from our existing nature (ref. “Faith Is A Halfway House“).
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Narrow Is The Way Which Leadeth Unto Life
The Way is spoken of as being narrow, not as rough, stony, or difficult, as many interpretations of this passage imply.
So our focus must be on the self-discipline, the mindset, required to stay on The Way.
The mindset is highly independent: it does not depend on the views of others but only on our personal understanding of the Will of God (ref. “Evidence of Our Narrow-Mindedness“, “‘Open Minded’: Not What We Think“).
It seeks peace (ref. “Blessed Are The Peacemakers“).
It is alive to the present moment (ref. “Does ‘Take No Thought’ Make Any Sense?“).
It is open to continuous personal improvement through spiritual knowledge gained via daily experiencing in trying to act according to The Word (ref. “Act To Experience To Know“).
It accepts the primacy of God’s Laws as the manifestation of His Perfection (ref. “The Nature of God’s Laws“, “Mercy Is Not Random“).
Everything must emanate from a place of love and humility: how we control our thinking (ref. “Does Take No Thought Make Any Sense?“), how we form opinions about people (ref. “Evidence Of Our Narrow-Mindedness“), how we manage disagreements (ref. “Never Say Never“), how we speak (ref. “Mind Your Language“), etc.
Few There Be That Find It
It is clearly stated that salvation is not for everyone, perhaps not even for a majority.
This implies that the popularity of a viewpoint or way of life has no bearing on whether it is right.
Whether we are leaders or “active” members of some religious organisation, big or small, is irrelevant.
Whether we are highly respected by our neighbours and society is immaterial.
Whether the whole world calls us “good” means nothing to the Laws of God.
Our inner life, the degree to which pure selfless love is the engine of our activities, is what determines how the Laws of God treat us: whether they keep us on the narrow path to life or cast us out.
Today’s Resolution:
- We will recommit to the strait and narrow way, which ignores the opinions of men, both positive and negative, and focuses on the progressive understanding of God’s Laws through loving activity.
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