Strive to enter through the narrow gate!
Contents
Sunday day sermon
Text: Luke 13:22-30
Title: Strive to Enter Through the Narrow Gate!
In a world where it is difficult to get a job amid a recession like these days, it is difficult to get a job at a large company such as LG or Samsung without breaking through the competition rate of thousands of jobs even after graduating from a top-notch university. So, tens of thousands of applicants flock to companies that say it's okay, but companies are turning their eyes to overseas because they can't find a job in the so-called 3D workplace, which people are reluctant to. Even in a world that is going to rot, people flock to companies that are doing well, and companies that are not so good are shutting down and companies moving abroad.
This is also the case on the way to heaven.
Even if many people believe in Jesus with the heart to go to heaven even after death, they never give up on themselves. In order for human beings born in sin to have eternal life, they must first give up on themselves and live only according to the words of the Son of God. However, many people say that even though they have made a covenant with God (a covenant to give up on themselves and live according to the words of Jesus), the promise with God is behind the scenes and they like to live as they please. Whether it is the Israelites in the Old Testament or the Christians today, who wants to be ruled by God? They say that everyone is fussing as if they are going to die right away without God, but when God tries to rule them through His Son, they will not listen at all. Then, with a very plausible excuse, they say, “When did we not hear the word of God?” and brazenly assert their claim. They could not even dream of the fact that they were disrespecting the Son, that they were disobeying God.
When we say narrow door, we mean very difficult and difficult. So, how difficult and difficult is the word difficult and difficult? If we interpret these words in biblical terms, we can definitively say, “There is nothing more difficult and difficult in this world.” If something more difficult than this exists in this world, the meaning of the narrow gate has already lost its value. In fact, not all the words recorded in the Bible are words that every human being can practice and live. If it is something that all human beings can practice and live, it can never be the word of God. In the same context, speaking of a narrow gate, it is also a gate through which no human can enter. But why does the Bible say, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate!”? It means “Give yourself up”. As a human being with only one life, it is never easy to give up on yourself. No matter how hard and difficult it is to do in the world, it is because you will feel such pain when your life is attached to it.
So, trying to get in through the narrow door means putting everything down in the end. In other words, when we enter the bathroom, we are told to come out naked as if we were not wearing a single linen. Not only that. If you have exposed the outside, now you have to vomit out of the body even what is inside. This is the most difficult gate for everyone to cross. It is hard to give up on the outside, but it is one of the reasons why everyone is displeased to vomit out everything inside. The reason is that, as a human being with a human body, it is to break down the last stronghold. But the bigger reason is that the spirit of darkness will never allow it. Humans are unwilling to give up on themselves because everyone is deceived by the spirit of darkness and unaware of their existence, but if you humble yourself a little and take a closer look, you will soon realize that you are being deceived by someone.
In the end, when Jesus said to all humans, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate!”, He said that humans should no longer be deceived by evil spirits and led away by them because they gave up on themselves, but that all should come before the Lord and enjoy freedom. If you do, I will become your master over you and give you rest (freedom from iniquity). However, hardened humans do not care about the Lord's words and are deceived by the spirit of darkness within themselves and do not come to the Lord in the end. And if there is a place they are looking for, many people will be deceived by the deceptive words, “You can enter through the narrow door without giving up on you.” After all, humans hate going on difficult and difficult roads, so the devil uses this very appropriately. Think about it! They say we can go to heaven in the same way, but what stupid human would want to live a life of faith with their pride trampled on? If it's the same price, wouldn't you want to be treated like a person and go to heaven? This is the very insidious method the devil is aiming for.
The Lord takes a very harsh method against men with the purpose of convincing them that they are under sin. Sometimes they scold him, sometimes they beat him with a rod, and he does not hesitate to trample human pride. At that time, the devil stands on the other side and seduces people who hate the Lord's word with very sweet words and draws them to his side. When I come out to the Lord after being scolded by someone, who is standing next to me and comforting me, who wouldn't like it? Anyone who realizes even a little bit of the fact that they are a human being, where I came from and where I am going, will not fall for the devil's tricks, but will run right back to the Lord and ask him to kill them. You become engrossed in your thoughts and fall into a trap for yourself.
Think about it! How do humans born under the hands of the devil want to be treated by God and live eternally? Is it plausible to spend time in front of the Lord saying that he does not recognize his existence in a situation where it is safe to say that he is dead every day? In the end, the word to enter through the narrow gate also means to deny your existence every day, speaking in the same context. This means that you will pass through that difficult gate and reach eternal life. Because only when you deny yourself will the Lord take responsibility for you. In the end, it is said that no one can pass through the narrow gate except through the Lord. Those who have ears will understand...?