LUKE 13:23-24, 29-30: “Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Try very hard to enter through the narrow door. I tell you, many will try to enter and will not be able to…People will come from east and west and north and south. They will take their places at the feast in God’s kingdom. Then the last will be first. And the first will be last.” (NIRV)

OBSERVATION: I am narrow minded. I admit it. I am not ashamed of it. I have freely chosen to be narrow minded. Many will not understand this position, and may well see me as a threat to progress in our world. However, if you can, please let me explain to you why I am narrow minded.

I am not narrow minded in my love for my fellow man. In fact, I am willing to lay down my life for what I believe – because I love my fellow man. This is much different than a position of hate that would willingly take another’s life for what they believe. I will never raise my voice in anger or hatred simply because you do not agree with me or understand me. I will pray for you, love you, help you, and listen to you. Yet, I will continue to be narrow minded.

I am not narrow minded in my lack of understanding that there are a multitude of different opinions in this world. I do not believe that I am right simply because I am an American, or because I go to a certain church. I recognize that I do not know everything. In fact, I am fully aware of how much I do not know, and how much I still need to learn. Yet, I will continue to be narrow minded.

I am not narrow minded in my empathy for the suffering of my fellow man. I understand what it means to struggle with a grave illness, the pain endured at the loss of a loved one, and the battle one wages against controlling and destructive habits in their life. I will not simply spew out empty platitudes as a means of dealing with these challenges. I will listen, I will pray, and I will always be there to lend an helping hand. Yet, I will continue to be narrow minded.

I AM narrow minded because I firmly believe it is a matter of life and death. I believe in Jesus Christ with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. He is my personal Savior and Lord. In Him I have found forgiveness of sin, victory over sin, healing that is both physical and spiritual, and an eternal hope that transcends this life. And I am narrow minded because Jesus proclaimed that the door to this abundant and eternal life is narrow. While thousands pour through the broad gates of their own opinions, it is only those who enter the narrow gate that find eternal life.

If I truly believe this, and if I truly love you and my fellow man, I must be narrow minded. I must call you to the narrow door. I must remind you that there is salvation and eternal life only by entering through this door – which is faith in Jesus Christ. I must boldly proclaim, even at the cost of death, the call to repentance and faith in Christ. I must defend and teach all that Jesus proclaimed. If we disagree, it is not because I do not love you – it is because I do love you! If I didn’t I would let you simply wander off down the broad path, without a warning, and without a care. Yet I do love you. I do want you to know Jesus as your personal Savior. This is why I choose to be narrow minded.

My love for you, my love for my fellow man, my love for Jesus Christ, compels me to be narrow minded. Jesus said the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. Dear friend, I want you to last. I pray each day that you too will be narrow minded. I pray that you will enter through the narrow gate that leads to abundant and everlasting life – through Jesus Christ.

Something wonderful happens when you enter the narrow gate. What appears to be restrictive to those who do not believe, becomes the entry way into the fullness of God’s love, joy, peace, and life. In fact the narrow gate leads to the true source of all that God created us to be – now and for all eternity!  

The door is open.

His hand is extended.

What will you do?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…enter through the narrow door…enter in His life!

In Jesus Name!

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