(The Need for Active and Focused Faith)

"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:14 NIV)

Saturday morning, March 9, the space shuttle Columbia landed successfully in Florida. The space ship's commander has limited options for re-entering the earth's atmosphere without burning up or bumping out into space. Options are even more limited for touching down safely on the landing strip, particularly now that the space program has chosen to land the craft at Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center in Florida rather than California's Edwards Air Force Base to save the million dollar cargo charge incurred each time it is ferried back to Florida on the back of a Boeing 747. The final descent from a 200 mile altitude is so swift that the returning space shuttle must be lined precisely on target in order to land safely. This alignment is the 'one and only gate' that leads to re-entry.

We live in a time when few people want to be narrowed down to one option. Our love for options has led to a reluctance, if not an aversion, towards true commitment. Jesus speaks of one gate that leads to life. And few there be that find it. Today we are told "All roads lead to God." A recent science report claims, "It makes no difference what you believe, faith heals." We would like to believe that. We love to keep our options open. Anything less than that sounds arrogant to our relativistically trained ears. But Jesus tells us that faith is the transfer of trust towards a proven trustworthy object or person. Faith must be focused. The only trustworthy object of 'saving faith' is the propositional truth of God's plan of redemption fulfilled in the proven work of Jesus Christ's substitutionary death and resurrection. We cannot save ourselves. There is no Plan B for salvation. Paul says "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law (or any other way) Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:21) Our salvation is narrowed down to one option. (Acts 4:12). Our faith must be focused on Christ. "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other." (Isaiah 45:22 NIV).

Either we come to the narrow gate of faith in Christ or we face inevitable destruction. Jesus claimed, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." There is one gate and one path that leads to life. And He said, "I am the gate." (John 10:7,9).

The gate speaks of the entrance into an experience of God's life through faith in Christ. The path speaks of the ongoing practice of faith in Christ for the journey that enables us to consistently experience that Life. Some have seen the gate as the 'crisis' of faith, our initial repentance, and the path as the 'practice' of faith, the process of our sanctification. Faith must stay focused on Christ. He who has saved us from our sin (the guttermost ) is able to save us to the uttermost! The present ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ is to act as our Intercessor mediating all the blessings of the New Covenant (Hebrews 7:25). "Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given unto you. Seek and keep on seeking and you shall find. Knock and keep on knocking and doors which were once closed shall be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7).

Jesus has made available to us the Father's vast reservoir of supply containing every possible spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). He marvels that we drink so sparingly! Let's put our faith into practice and ask for His kingdom life and love to be manifested today (Matthew 6:10), our daily bread (6:11), forgiveness (6:12), victory over sin and Satanic snares (6:13). Let us ask for laborers (9:38). Ask boldly for the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). We have not, because we ask not (James 4:2).

Let us make ourselves available to the present ministry of Jesus Christ. The small gate is the right gate. And the right gate is the floodgate.

Yours on the path,