We hear this statement all the time – “Life is about making choices.” We will be surprised at some researchers’ findings that people make dozens of decisions on a daily basis.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
– Matthew 7:13-14
We hear this statement all the time – “Life is about making choices.” We will be surprised at some researchers’ findings that people make dozens of decisions on a daily basis. Over the centuries, studies on decision-making contributed to a number of intellectual disciplines such as mathematics, sociology, psychology, economics, and political science. Philosophers pondered about “what our decisions say about ourselves and about our values” and neuroscientists researched to provide leaders with studies on how to become better decision-makers.[1]
What does the Bible say about decision-making that leads to life? In all choice-making, there is the end result. Simple choices about food can contribute to our well-being. Harder decision makings will decide our future. The more important decision about life leads to eternal life – this is the hint that Jesus gives to us. Enter through the narrow gate and walk the narrow path which leads to eternal life! The narrow gate does not look attractive and may be hard to squeeze through. The narrow path does not look comfortable to walk on and may be rough and bumpy. Nevertheless, the reward at the end of this path is one that every living person is seeking – eternal life! The narrow gate is Jesus and the narrow path is to walk with Him as His disciples.
“We are free up to the point of choice, then the choice controls the chooser.”[2] God tells us there are two gates with two different paths – the chooser’s choice from this point of decision will control his or her life’s onward journey. One gate puts a person on a path to life and the other puts a person on a path to destruction. We know the word destruction is not a good word. God uses it here to mean eternal death – the opposite of eternal life. Hence, it refers to hell – the opposite of heaven. If this is not true, God will not tell us so. The most important choice in life is who we are worshipping and following. Jesus says, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” John 10:9.
Journeying with you … Pastor Susan
[1] https://raywilliams.ca/neuroscience-can-help-us-make-better-decisions/
[2] Mary Crowley – Source: https://proverbicals.com/choices
