matthew 5:13-14

it's foolish to think that being 'saved' is easy as pie, that it's simple becoming a Christian - ya know, all you have to do is say a quick prayer confessing your sins, and declaring Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Looking at verses 13 and 14 of Matthew 5; we see that these 2 verses reach the pinnacle/climax of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. "Enter in the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in that way; because narrow is the gate, and hard is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

it all comes down to one word: CHOOSE

He's asking us to make the ultimate choice, to which path we'll take, to which destination we'll end up in: life or destruction. Seeing as his audience was made up of mainly Jews (believing Jews at that, among whom were the Pharisees), we know Jesus was not addressing the contrast between Christians and Pagans; rather, he was talking to 'Christians' alike! Both roads, the wide and the narrow, are marked as "The Way to Heaven" (i mean why would Satan mark the road to destruction as Hell? that wouldn't be tactful of him) .. So Jesus is contrasting between divine righteousness and human righteousness, as opposed to blatant unrighteousness. So what is Jesus calling us to do? well, he wants to bring us to that point where we realize that in our flesh, we are completely and utterly incapable of pleasing God. He wants us to be in desperation for him, with a broken spirit, meek and mournful. He wants us to cry out for righteousness from the one and only source that provides it, from God himself.

BUT.

its not just about that choice. often the fine print is overlooked. the fine print of 2 simple words: Follow Through

In order to enter the Kingdom we need to come on the terms Jesus described. to abandon our self-righteousness so we see ourselves as beggars in spirit (Matthew 5:3), mourning over our sin (Matthew 5:4), meek before a Holy God (Matthew 5:5), and hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). God wants us to strive wholeheartedly to enter that narrow gate as it says in Luke 13:24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able"

The word 'Strive' is the Greek word agonizomai, which means "to agonize." This word is used in 1Corinthians 9:25 to speak of the athlete who agonizes to win a victory. Not only that, but looking at 1 Timothy 6:12 it says "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

The Kingdom is for those who seek it with all their hearts; its for those who agonize to enter it; for those who mourn in meekness, hunger and thirst for righteousness, and long for God to change their lives. He wants us to be utterly dependant solely on Him. ya, to be as dependant as a child is.. as in Matthew 18:3.

Our generation has become an age of laziness. we're a generation who always looks for those quick-fixes, those instant-everything's. But when it concerns salvation, we canNOT be lazy. there is no quick-fix, as in, one cannot expect to be saved and on that path to life just because he or she believes and prays. granted there is nothing wrong with believing and praying, but those things in itself do not guaruntee salvation.. for even the Devil believes, and what about the Pharisees! Verses 13 & 14 of Matthew 5 is incredibly scary when you think about it. Many many 'christians' believe they're on that road to life, yet as Jesus points out, many seek and few will find... many will be deceived and enter that broad road labelled "The True Way to Heaven" when all along they're headed to destruction.

so words to myself as a reminder.. Beware . continually understand that I am nothing, absolutely nothing.. and only through my Father am i made into something......