The Narrow Gate

The Narrow Gate

There was an enormous crowd
walking toward me.
They talked and laughed
and smiled with glee.

They all looked the same.
Some rich, some poor.
They all seemed to be heading
for this really wide door.

They didn't seem frightened.
They were the status quo.
But I was headed against them
being tossed to and fro.

They looked at me strangely.
They didn't understand.
They tried to grab me
and take hold my hand.

I kept pulling away
even though it brought me pain.
So many loved ones in that crowd
that I would never see again.

They didn't look worried.
In this life, satisfied.
They thought I was stupid
for the tears I now cried.

"Why don't you just come with us?
So much easier it would be!"
But I fought against that crowd.
Their future they couldn't see.

There were only a handful
who decided to come with me.
This crowd was mocking us -
"How ignorant can you be?!"

We tried to get them to follow us.
"This pain will be worth the reward!"
But what was beyond that door sustained them
like a mother's umbilical cord.

I kept fighting against the crowd
to run the opposite way.
My Jesus, He did notice this -
"Well done, my child," I felt Him say!

For I had chosen the path
that few did choose that day.
I was still a sinner,
but He had paid my way.

For those in that crowd
had done good in their life,
but had rejected my Jesus
because His way required strife.

Some had went to church all their lives,
even donated to the poor,
but still when that day did come
they followed the crowd toward the giant door.

For they didn't truly know
what for us few was innate,
though our path was painfully longer,
we kept heading toward that narrow gate.

For the truth, it sat within our hearts
as we cried for that lost crowd.
Though their way was so much easier than ours,
their judgement was blinded by his smoky cloud.

For Jesus' love was all we did need,
to make it to the gate.
The Book of Life was waiting there
with our names and salvation dates!

What joy I felt to be welcomed home.
I knew this was the way!!
For I had never felt more loved
than I did on this special day.

I saw my Jesus look past me
toward the crowd that was moving away.
Then, tears rolled down his gentle face.
His heart, their decision did slay.

"It was always their choice
whether or not to be with me.
As they walk through that wide door,
what life is like without me, they'll soon see."

"For nothing that they had before
will matter to them in there.
All their money, religion, and good deeds
will get them absolutely nowhere."

"For everything good that they ever had
was because I created it for them.
Once they enter that door, I will be gone
and they'll be left to burn with him."

But love cannot exist without a choice
and He loves us all enough to let us choose.
Though He loves us so, by rejecting Him,
eternal happiness we will forever lose.

Our lives are but a vapor
and He loves us enough to say,
"Won't you trust in me, for tomorrow may not come,
and run the opposite way today?"

- Kristin Myers
July 6, 2009

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