Matthew (Mattithyahu) 7:13-14

13. "Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide - and the way is broad - that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it.

14. "Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

(ISR Version)

When I first started this walk with The Most High Yahuah, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. All I knew was that I needed The Father and I needed His only begotten Son. I had reached a breaking point in my life where I knew I couldn't do this anymore without the Saviour.

And don't get me wrong. I had been a believer in Yahuah (our Heavenly Father) and Yahusha (The Messiah) my whole life. However, with religion, there's a certain part they tend to leave out in the church houses. And that's the fact that you have to actually repent for your sins, surrender your life and really walk the walk that the bible talks about. Not just talk it. It's one thing in confessing belief in The Creator and His Son, but it's another thing to show that belief that you claim to have.

Matthew 7:13 talks about how wide and broad the gate to destruction is. And how there are going to be so many people that end up entering that gate instead of the narrow gate. It's narrow for a reason.

So let's break that verse down a bit. This world is full of wickedness, and majority of folks do not follow the Word or believe in it at all. There's more people following their own fleshly wants/desires than following the ways of our Messiah and the commandments of The Heavenly Father.

The enemy has created a system geared towards making sin look fun and great, while making righteousness look horrible. Choosing the ways of this world will lead straight to destruction because you will ultimately be going against our Creator and everything He stands for.

He tells His people to be set-apart. And to not follow the ways of this corrupted world. As believers and followers of Yahusha (our Messiah), we must also live as He lived. And love as He loved.

The Messiah was not one to follow the crowd. He stood on business! He did not stir away from the Will of The Father. He was perfect in every way. And that is why we need Him. So that we may be able to receive the Holy Spirit, and walk as He walked.

There's going to be a great number of people choosing the broad gate because people love their sin. They love feeling in control and they love pride. If you take a good look around you, what do you notice?

People wrapped up in their own worlds trying to figure out when, where, what, why and how they are going to do this and that. And not only trying to figure it out, but stressing and falling into depression behind it. You're going to see people that lack morals and values. People boasting about what they have done for themselves, instead of giving Yahuah all the praise and glory. Most people will show kindness but it won't be out of love for the Father, it will be so that they can boast about what a great person they are. Idolatry at it's finest. Self-idolizing.

And don't get me wrong, we have all been there before. Including myself because I was not always saved. I have had my fair share of worldliness. However, I made a conscious decision to choose The Father and have a real relationship with Him. Which leads me to talk about Matthew 7:14.

That wonderful narrow path. Something that I don't think I could have ever prepared myself for. The Word talks about how this path is not something that is easy. On this walk, you are really picking up your stake and following in the steps of The Messiah. And we all know that nobody had it more rough than Yahusha when He was walking this earth.

Here's just a snippet of what it looks like to follow the narrow path. It comes with social persecution, times of feeling alone, losing people close to us, being made fun of for our belief, and conviction. Notice I said "conviction" and not condemnation. There's a high chance you will experience times of tears as well, because let's face it, you will be on an emotional rollercoaster. Therefore, many people are not going to choose this narrow path.

BUT if you do, you will never regret the choice you have made in choosing to give your life to Yahuah. And that is because the Holy Spirit is there with us. Comforting us. Guiding us. Lifting us up. Cleaning us up!

Yes, we may feel all sorts of downs, but my goodness, nothing beats all of the highs you will feel as well. Like knowing that no matter what, you still have joy in your heart. Joy that only the Father can provide. You will have something you stand firm on. A solid foundation that is unshakable. You will finally have peace of mind in everything. Knowing that even when the world laughs at you for your faith, the Father is well-pleased with you. When hardships arise, you KNOW deep down inside of you that Yahuah got you. HalleluYAH! Now that's what I call faith.

Will you lose family members and friends? Yes. I'm not going to lie to you. You will realize very quickly that when you stop living in sin, people's true feelings about you will be revealed. Wickedness and righteousness cannot mix together. There will always be some kind of pull. Either they will pull you back into sin, or you will pull them closer to The Father. However, things will never be the same. And that's okay. Yahuah will give you a new set of friends. Those who are believers as well. I assure you, it will be better. The Father never takes away something without replacing it with greater.

Yahusha sacrificed His life for us. The least we can do is sacrifice ours for Him. Deny our flesh and live for Him to the best of our abilities. And keep The Father at the center of everything we do.

I encourage you brothers and sisters to remain steadfast in this walk. It's not for the weak, but you were chosen, so you are special to YAH. You have a mission that only you can accomplish. Stand tall for Yahuah and Yahusha and remember that if nobody else loves you, The Father loves you. Shalom.