“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." Matthew 7:13,14
At the Olympic trials on Monday, Molly Ludlow missed her chance of making the team by mere milliseconds. In fact, just 0.04 seconds separated her from a 3rd place finish in the womens 800-meter track event deeming her, once again, the closest runner in the field not to make it to the Olympics. You see, just four years ago, on this very same track, she missed making the team by 0.02 seconds. When it comes to qualifying for the Olympics, the margins are getting much narrower aren't they? It's amazing to think that just a mere millisecond, or one hundredth of a second, could keep a person from entering the coveted Olympic Games. But the rules are very clear-only the top three get in.
When it comes to entering Heaven, the rules are even more clear and the margins even more narrow. The Bible tells us that we "can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate" but that most will settle for the easier route, the life where the "gate is wide for the many who choose that way." As with the Olympics, very few people will do what it takes to qualify to enter Heaven because "the road is difficult" and, although the invitation is open to all of us, "only a few will find it", or accept it.
Olympian hopefuls spend their lives training so they can stay focused on their goal and ready when the time comes to fulfill it. I wonder, are we as Christians doing the same? John Calvin sums it up saying, "No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief."
Heavenly Father, thank you for laying down the specific rules of what it takes to gain entry into your Kingdom. Your Word is clear that only those that believe in and follow you will enter the narrow gate. All others will be disqualified and turned away. Help us to be as disciplined as Olympic hopefuls training in the Word daily and keeping our eyes on the prize. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
www.team413.org
He wants it all - Forever Jones
http://www.runnersworld.com/olympic-trials/another-heartbreaking-fourth-for-molly-ludlow
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