Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14
The narrow road has obstacles from time to time
Things that trip us up
Things that get in our way
that try to distract us
Try to fool us
Try to get us to lose our focus
Sometimes obstacles can seem extremely large
and that we cannot pass them
They take our time,
our energy,
our emotional strength
They make us tired, weary
We wake up the next morning and they’re still there, in our way,
taking our time again
Sometimes it’s a person, a job, a circumstance
There doesn’t seem to be a way around it
But then, we look and the obstacle is behind us,
somehow we waded through it with the Lord and got to the other side, oftentimes we can realize a lesson
or the purpose of whatever it is we have overcome
The narrow road is one of a kind
There are no other roads that we can take
So if we have to clear the brush,
the gravel from time to time, so be it
There are no alternatives
As we carry our cross
and the world is left in the dust
Sometimes we walk rather slowly,
keeping our eyes on Jesus is not a hurried method
It is our journey and He is with us, leading us every step of the way
I think a word study on reward may be in order
If we do not give up and keep on the narrow path,
letting Him guide us, we will receive a great reward
Which is nice to know but can be difficult to appreciate when we can’t see it
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man,
that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it?
or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 22:19
He has promised us that following Him will bring us to His kingdom
Do not look back and keep your eyes on what He has promised you
He tells us to leap for joy and realize our reward is great in heaven
While we can look forward to the heavenly rewards,
they are rewards we know by faith we will receive
We know He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
Scriptural References:
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Luke 6:23
But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:16
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:
Luke 13:23-25