The Harder Path

Some things are harder than others.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." - Matthew 7:13-21

Why choose the harder path?

Jesus uses the example of a narrow gate, presumably one in the wall around the city of Jerusalem.

The narrow gate is much more demanding.  You cannot bring all your belongings with you mounted on a donkey, if you choose that gate to enter.

So, the message here could be to come before God unburdened, which is something Jesus talks about a lot.  

On the one hand he says that if you have too many possessions, you will find it hard to part with them.  And n the other, he says that following him lightens the burden, making the journey easier.

There is a lot to be said for that approach.  The gate is intentionally narrow to remind us that all the stuff we load ourselves down with may be unnecessary.  We may be slowing ourselves down, holding ourselves back.

The harder path is actually the easier one to navigate, because we cannot bring what we don't really need.

In the Kingdom, all is provided, all is already there.

So, unload, unburden, and don't let the bastards weigh you down.

Good advice, I think.

More to come...