By Sinian
One evening, Chunguang, heavy of heart, was sitting in front of her desk reading Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter you in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.” Though she had read and pondered these two verses many times, she still couldn’t figure out the question about entering the narrow gate and the wide gate. She pondered, “It is written in the Bible that only those believers who enter the narrow gate can gain eternal life. Then, how do I enter the narrow gate? What is the narrow gate? What is the wide gate? Since I believe in the Lord in churches, have I entered the narrow gate?” These questions made Chunguang very confused. So, once after a meeting, she asked the preacher, Co-worker Li, these questions. And Co-worker Li answered, “Actually, believing in the Lord Jesus is to enter the narrow gate. As long as we hold onto the name of the Lord and endure to the end, we will surely enter the narrow gate; while those who don’t believe in the Lord and are still of the world will enter the wide gate.” After hearing that, Chunguang still doubted: Is this really the case? The following verses said about two kinds of fruit trees and two different foundations, which was said in regard to two kinds of believers rather than to believers and unbelievers. How could Co-worker Li confuse them? As she couldn’t agree with Li’s explanation, she could only pray to the Lord carrying the confusion, “O Lord, what is the wide gate? What is the narrow gate? How can I enter the narrow gate? I know the narrow gate and the wide gate mean two different beliefs in God and two different outcomes. Then which belief do I belong to? How can I find the narrow gate and gain eternal life? These questions have puzzled me for a long time. O Lord, please enlighten me and guide me to understand Your will.” Later, Chunguang kept seeking in the Bible, trying to find the answer.
One day, Chunguang came across her previous colleague Zhang Lan, an old believer who pursued zealously. Then Chunguang poured out her confusion, and Zhang Lan answered seriously, “These words of the Lord Jesus were under a certain background. At that time, since the Pharisees, priests and scribes held onto the doctrines and letters of the law and didn’t seek to know God and God’s work in their belief in God and service for God, they didn’t believe the Lord Jesus was Messiah, the appearance of Christ, nor did they recognize the word expressed by the Lord Jesus is the truth, the voice of God. Instead, they persecuted and resisted the Lord Jesus’ words and work, even arrested and condemned Him, and in the end nailed Him to the cross. Consequently, they entered the wide gate which led to destruction. In contrast, people like Peter, John and Nathanael didn’t hold onto the law or rules. They saw that the Lord Jesus’ work and word were full of authority and power, and that the signs and wonders the Lord Jesus performed, like resurrecting a dead man with one word and feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, could only be done by the Creator. Besides, they recognized God’s voice in the words spoken by the Lord Jesus and confirmed that He was the appearance of Christ. Finally, they moved outside the law and accepted the Lord Jesus’ salvation. And they were ones who entered the narrow gate. As we all know, The Lord Jesus said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep’ (John 10:7). The Lord Jesus told us that He was the door of the sheep, but in a world filled with darkness, few people could accept the Lord Jesus’ salvation or seek the truth and the way of the light. So, at that time those who could accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior entered the narrow gate.”
Chunguang asked Zhang Lan thoughtfully, “Since now is the last days, can we with such a faith enter the narrow gate? Why can’t I feel the presence of the Lord Jesus?”
Zhang Lan continued to fellowship, “The Lord Jesus told us, ‘For as the lightning, that lightens out of the one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation’ (Luke 17:24-25). This scripture is the Lord’s prophecy about His second coming before He ascended into heaven. From this we can know the Lord Jesus will be rejected by this generation and suffer many things when He comes again. Just as when the Lord Jesus first appeared in the flesh, the priests, scribes and Pharisees believing in God for many years, resisted and condemned Him, and even colluded with the Roman government to crucify Him on the cross. Moreover, the Lord Jesus said He was the door of the sheep and He also prophesied many times that He would come again to carry out a new work. So, if we want to enter the narrow gate to gain eternal life, we must follow the footprints of the returned Lord Jesus and find the work of His second coming. The Bible says, ‘And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day’ (John 12:47-48). ‘However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come’ (John 16:13). ‘He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Revelation 2:29). The Lord Jesus told us that He will speak and utter His words to judge man when He returns and asked us to carefully listen to the voice of God. So, as long as we find the words of the returned Lord Jesus and receive His work of judgment in the last days, we will enter the narrow gate predicted by the Lord Jesus.”
Chunguang nodded her head and said, “After listening to your fellowship, I have become somewhat clear. And I know that we should find the words of the returned Lord Jesus before we have the opportunity to enter the narrow gate.” Then she asked, “So, how can we find the second coming of the Lord Jesus and follow His work to enter the narrow gate?”
Zhang Lan replied, “According to the prophecies, we should discern which church has the work of the Holy Spirit and the new words of God. Once we find this church, it is undoubtedly right to investigate it for it must be a raptured church when the Lord returns. In addition, the Book of Revelation says, ‘These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’ (Revelation 7:14). From this scripture, I understood: Just like when the Lord Jesus came to work, He was condemned by the religious community and the Roman government and was rejected by the world. If a church witnesses the appearance and work of the Lord Jesus’ second coming, which suffers the arrest, persecution, disparagement and discredits of the government as well as the rejection of the religious world the most, we should seek and investigate even more. Besides, because the Lord Jesus prophesied that He will suffer many things and be rejected by this generation when He comes again, those who follow the returned Lord Jesus must endure a lot of suffering and finally emerge from the great tribulation. They should be the ones who enter the narrow gate.”
After listening to Zhang Lan’s fellowship, Chunguang said happily, “What you have communicated is in line with the prophecies of the Bible. Only if we find the church which witnesses the Lord’s second coming, can we enter the narrow gate. Thanks to your clear communication today, the confusion in my heart has finally been released. Thanks be to God. Sister, please communicate more with me at your convenience.” “That would be great! Thank God!” Zhang Lan said.
