Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

Let’s face it, life is hard.  It would be great if we could lead others to Christ by saying hey it’s super easy to be a Christian.  In this chaotic world, we want to hear that things are quick and easy.  If only we could tell people that the process of becoming and remaining a Christian is quick and easy.  Sadly, if we are honest, we must tell them that it is anything but quick and easy.

Sinning is easy.  Listening to the dirty jokes that the guys tell at work, that’s easy.  Spewing profanity when things don’t go our way, that’s easy.  Telling that little white lie, that’s easy.  Allowing our friendship with the married co-worker to become a bit too close, that’s easy.  Hating someone and carrying a grudge against someone who has done us wrong, that’s easy.  It’s easy to do things according to the way of the world.  Just take the easy way out.

But let me ask you a question.  Have you ever come through a particularly challenging task?  Perhaps the training for your job caused you to go through some extremely mentally and/or physically challenging demands.  So, how did you feel when you successfully completed these challenging demands?  I know that when I completed my master’s degree, I felt a wonderful sense of accomplishment.  When I completed the police academy, I was so glad to know that I had done it!  When I completed a week of basic SWAT school I was a bit surprised but elated that I had made it through.  I have often heard it said that nothing worth having is easy.

All those easy things mentioned above, I have done.  I will tell you that I didn’t feel very good once I had done them.  In the world of law enforcement often the big guy that spoke the most profanity, told the most dirty jokes is considered the big tough guy. I came to realize that the strong guys were the ones that refrained from that type behavior.  Near the end of my career, I was transferred to another parish.  At first I was a bit upset because I didn’t know my way around over there, but I soon adjusted quite well.  You see I learned that most of the law enforcement over there were Christians.  I learned that they had a wide vocabulary and could carry on conversation without using offensive words. This feature in a person became very attractive to me and I realized that I preferred to have adult conversation that did not mean offensive words and dirty jokes.  I saw these men and women as strong and courageous not only because they were fearless in doing their job but because they were fearless in their Christianity.

You see, taking the easy way out usually doesn’t reap many rewards.  If I felt a sense of accomplishment at completing a degree or a physically challenging training, I can’t wait to see what I feel like when I have made it through the narrow gate and get to heaven to spend eternity with my Lord and Savior.

I know it won’t be easy and I know that I will stumble and fall along the way, but I also know that my Lord and Savior will lead me if I only ask.  This is why as I greet each new day I try to begin that day by spending a few minutes with Jesus.  I ask Him to guide me through the day.  I ask Him to guard my mouth and my mind.

It’s not easy choosing the narrow path.  The broad path that leads to destruction is very easy to find and easy to get onto.  This scripture passage tells us that only a few will find the small gate and the narrow road that leads to life.  We have spent the last couple of days talking about being led by the Good Shepherd.  God can lead you through that small gate and down that narrow road, but it is a process.  It is a marathon and not a sprint.

We have a choice to make each and every day.  We must take a stand as Christians.  We must choose the narrow path.  We must choose to avoid even the appearance of evil.  1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 tells us to not quench the Spirit, not treat prophecies with contempt, to test all and hold on to what is good and to reject every kind of evil.  This means that when the joke telling starts, walk away.  This means that when the profanity starts, walk away.  This means that when the co-worker is becoming a little too chummy, walk away.  This means that you avoid a situation that would cause you to be inclined to tell a lie.  This means that you not only forgive the person that has hurt you but that you love your enemy.

As Christians, we have to not only live a life of purpose, but we must live our lives on purpose.  We can’t just drift through and allow things to happen, we must take a stand and make good  things happen or stop bad things from happening.  We must wake up each and every day with a commitment to do what is right and to avoid what is wrong.  We must realize that we can’t do all this alone, we can only do it with the strength and power that is found in Jesus Christ.

We must focus on Jesus Christ and follow His lead.  My prayer for you today is that as you go through each and every day that you will follow the Good Shepherd through the small gate and stay on the narrow road.  The final destination is well worth the journey.

Have a great day!