Matthew 7:12-14

¹² “So ask yourself whatever you would rather that others would do for you, and determine to do that for them, because this is what the Law and the Prophets teach.

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.

¹⁴ But the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

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The Sky Kingdom is the hard way

Much of evangelism in the past generations has seemed like an attempt to make joining God’s kingdom as easy as possible. Perhaps the hope was that if we can get people to commit to following Jesus, then all that is associated with that commitment will follow. It has not worked. The Christianity it has produced is shallow and weak, and it looks very much like the easy way that Jesus spoke of. The trouble is, the easy way still leads to destruction. It destroys life today, and it leads to ultimate destruction in Gehenna.

The sky kingdom way is hard, messy and complicated. It demands community, and an investment in that community. We call it church. Church is hard. If it is easy, we are not doing it right. Kingdom living is a narrow gate which requires an uncomfortable squeeze. It forces us to think about what others want, and focus on loving them. That’s what the Law and Prophets (Old Testament) demanded. Those demands are still part of the New Covenant. They have not passed away.

Of course, Jesus said that few would enter this narrow way. But he did not say that to give us an out. It is still the only way that leads to life. It is the only real solution to today’s problems and the only hope for a destiny tomorrow. Perhaps we need to show the watching world how hard it is to follow Jesus. Maybe then they will get it.

LORD, forgive us for sugar-coating your eternal gospel. The way to life is costly. It led you to the cross, and it will require much of us. Show us how to take this hard way, and how to lead others to it as well.