"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many I say
unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" (Luke 13:24).
The
Reader is invited to compare our text with Matthew 7:13-14. For the past couple
of weeks we have been focusing on the main theme of these weekly articles-- the
narrow way that leads to heaven, which is only entered by the strait gate. Our
Lord in parabolic language illustrates for us true conversion (the strait
gate), and true perseverance (the narrow way). In order to get to heaven and
immortal glory you must walk in the narrow way for it is the only way to
heaven. And there is but one way to get into the narrow way and that is by the
strait gate of conversion. Most of you are complete strangers to the truth of
my text, for you have never been converted.
Note well that our Lord says that conversion is a difficult
thing. The archaic word used in our text, "strait," literally means
"difficult." Contrary to popular opinion it is not an easy thing for
a sinner to get saved. In your day and mine we have been told that if we will
just repeat a prayer after the preacher or "soul winner" we will be
saved. We hear reports of young people walking the aisle chewing gum and
laughing as they "respond" to the appeal of an evangelist in a
"youth revival." Such modern day false evangelism is filling the
professed church with lost people. Multitudes are headed for hell so fast they
are kicking dust in the devil's face because they have been told that it is
easy to be saved. Friend if you had an easy time getting saved, you are not
saved, you are only deceived. Salvation, conversion, is simple but it is not
easy. I wish you would listen to the words of Christ. He said (not this little
country preacher) that it is a difficult gate you must get through if you will
be saved. Salvation is simply repenting of your sins and believing in the Lord
Jesus Christ and a little child can do that if he is regenerated by the Holy
Spirit. Conversion, though simple, is so difficult that no one would ever be
saved apart from the sovereign grace of God. By nature you love yourself and
your sins and it is foreign to your nature to repent. In fact you will never
repent unless the Lord Himself grant you repentance (Acts 11:18). Faith in
Christ is simple, yet no one will ever believe in Christ to the saving of his
soul until the Lord gives him faith (Ephesians 2:8) for saving faith is a gift
of God. You cannot come to Christ by your "free" will. Christ has
plainly declared in John 6:44, "no man cometh unto me except the Father who
sent Me draw him." It is not only difficult to be saved, it is impossible
to be saved without the drawing work of God.
Our Lord says something else here about true conversion that
is completely foreign to this generation of Mississippians. He commands us to
"strive" to enter in the gate of salvation. The word
"strive" in our English translation is from the Greek work
"agonizomai" from which we get our English word "agony."
Our Lord is telling us that if we will be saved we must agonize. Dear reader do
you know anything of which I speak? Have you ever been in agony of soul,
striving to be saved? Or did you just say a little prayer and walk the aisle
and join the church? When it pleases God to call an elect sinner from the
darkness of this world into the marvelous light of His Son, He brings that poor
sinner into distress of soul. I tell you that real conversion is a painful
experience. To be under Holy Spirit conviction is an agonizing experience. To
see yourself as spiritually bankrupt without a farthing to pay is a distressing
thing. To have you eyes opened to the truth that God is thrice holy and I am so
unholy and unclean that I despair of ever being saved is a most disturbing
experience. To try to pray and feel like I cannot pray because my heart is so
cold and hard and wicked, why this is agony of soul! To want to repent, and not
be able to repent, this is soul agony. Dear reader do you know anything of
which I write? Have you ever agonized in your soul because of your lost and
ruined state? Have you ever lost sleep at night fearing that you were too
sinful for a holy and just God to save you?
Now this is a little of what our Lord speaks when he says
that true conversion is difficult and painful. But I close with a word of
comfort and cheer for the chief of sinners. Christ came to save sinners! If you
are in agony of soul because you have felt your lost and ruined state then
Christ says to you, "come unto me"! Though you your sins are as
scarlet, ye shall be as white as snow by the blood of the Lamb. In the words of
John Newton, "I know two things, I am a great sinner, and Christ is a
great Saviour. If grace has taught your heart to fear, grace shall also relieve
your fears. May the Lord grant you peace in believing in the Lord Jesus Christ
this very day is my prayer for each of my readers.
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