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            The Christian life is a serious battle with the devil, so it is vital that we keep believing and keep trusting on the shed Blood of Christ for every answer to prayer.  Entering the Gate to Life is all part of following Matthew 7:12 “Everything, therefore, be it what it may, that you would have men do to you, do you also the same to them; for in this the Law and the Prophets are summed up.”

            Jesus then warns Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there: 14 Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  The Christian path to the Kingdom is by way of believing faith on the Atonement Blood of Jesus.

            The greatest danger facing everyone, is the fires of Hell; the truth about entering the Kingdom must be known; lived; and maintained.  The worst fate possible cannot be reversed once it is reached.  Hebrews 9:27-28 “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation”—to escort believers into the Kingdom.

            These closing days are a time when false teaching and deceptive doctrines are everywhere, which can lead us away from true faith and trust on the power of God.  2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”  A religious message may sound good, but the end results are horrible if it does not include believing trust on the power of God for things in this life.

            There are two gates and two destinations Matthew 7:13.  Everyone has a choice and everyone will make a choice—of either the straight gate to eternal life, or the broad way to eternal death.  A huge majority of unrepentant and unbelieving people in the world continue on a wide road to endless suffering; and a very small minority of repentant and believing Christians continue on a narrow path to eternal rejoicing.

            Jesus said that Hell is a real place of unspeakable suffering.  It is the worst danger facing us, and the most horrible fate we could ever imagine.  It is possible to avoid it, but most people will not, because they will not trust God in faith for anything.  As we eagerly wait Christ’s return, we must really be trusting God, and keeping our faith on the Blood of Christ for things in this life.

            Deception is possible, so warnings are given.  Luke 13:24-25 “Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are [I do not know you].”

            Heaven is also a real place but of endless happiness, and only for believers—those who will heed the warnings; repent and forsake their sins; and maintain their faith on the Atonement sacrifice of Christ.  All the trouble in this world is the result of rejecting God’s Word—Genesis 3:14 “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field.”  Adam accepted the lies of the devil and reaped the consequences of that rebellion.

            If our trust on God and our faith in Christ is only spoken but not active, we will enter that horrible place of eternal suffering.  Matthew 5:20 “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

            If we do not enter the kingdom prepared for believers, then we will enter the flames prepared for unbelievers Matthew 25:41.  If we live like the world of no trust on God, we will end like the world—guilty and sentenced to Hell forever.  Matthew 25:46 “These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”  A person is righteous only by believing in Jesus and putting their trust on the Blood of Atonement He made for them.

            This life is a spiritual war and a serious “struggle against sin” for the fate of eternal souls.  Hebrews 12:4.  If we have truly repented, forsaken our sins, and put our faith in the Atonement sacrifice of Christ, then we can have victory over the devil.  Many have professed faith in Jesus, only to turn away from that faith later.  It is possible to leave God’s Truth and to destroy the faith of others in the process 2 Timothy 2:18.

            There are only two types of people—the wise and foolish; believers and unbelievers; righteous and unrighteous.  We have to keep a believing faith on the Blood of Christ to be righteous.  We are either a child of the Father; or a child of the devil; we are for the truth, or against the truth Matthew 12:30.  John 15:2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit [the Father] takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

            When asked Luke 13:23-24 “Lord, are there few that be saved?” He said, “Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”  We must heed His words, and make every effort to stay on the path of trusting faith in His resurrection power—for healing without drugs; for protection without guns; for food without government programs; and for salvation by an enduring faith in the Blood of Christ.

            Some Luke 8:13 “for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”  Their faith did not endure through trials, so they did not persevere in trusting God.  One-time believers can later become unbelievers.  Many no longer have faith in God—due to Matthew 13:22 “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth.”  It can be Mark 4:19 “the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful”—they no longer walk by faith.

            A life of trust and faith in God can be difficult, because of false doctrines, the desire for money, and the attractions of the world.  Jesus warned that false teachers will try to devour us—this is what makes the straight road so dangerous and difficult.  2 Peter 2:1 “There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you.”  We must be on guard because they “bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

            If we are led away from a life of believing trust and faith on God and there is no repentance, we will land in the flames.  The delusion of once saved always saved teaches that a one-time profession of faith eternally secures a person—no matter how they live later; but we know that God “cuts off every branch in [Jesus] that bears no fruit” John 15:2.  If there is no spiritual fruit of trusting God in believing faith, we will eventually 6 be “thrown into the fire and burned.”

            Everyone conducts their life according to a set standard of morality—a standard they believe is necessary to avoid trouble.  In a spiritual sense, what we believe to be a right doctrine is how we will conduct our life.  The Truth must be known, and our faith must endure, because our eternal destiny hinges on what we believe about, and trust on, the Blood of Christ.

            Most people have been deceived by Satan to think that God does not protect them without firearms; that God will not heal them without medication; that God will not provide their needs without cash reserves; and that God just does not do things for people today.

            Satan has deceived millions to not accept the divine plan of believing faith and trust that God has thoroughly explained in the Bible.  The devil has as many counterfeit plans—on healing, finances, avenging wrongs, and other relevant life issues—as he has deceived people to follow his wide road of unbelief to a horrible fate in Hell.

            Millions of people put their trust in the medical profession for healing, because the devil wants to rob them of the spiritual benefits that accompany divine healing—by prayer and trust on God.  Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.’”

            The greatest danger we face, is the perpetual fires of Hell, but most people are not walking the straight path of faith, but are following the broad way to destruction.  Matthew 11:12 “From the time of John the Baptist till now, the Kingdom of the Heavens has been suffering violent assault, and the violent have been seizing it by force.”

            It is a difficult path because lies, deceptions, and distorted doctrines litter the road, which can cause us to stumble—in our faith on God.  Forceful people are holding on to God’s Truth, because we are compelled to make a real effort to remain in a position of trust on God and faith in the Blood of Christ.  We cannot let down our spiritual guard, but be alert to deception until Jesus returns.

            Romans 11:19-21 “You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’ 20 Granted.  But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.  Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.  21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.  22 “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”

            23 “Moreover, if they turn from their unbelief [back to trust on God], they too will be grafted in.  For God is [able] powerful enough to graft them in again.”  It is our responsibility to trust God in faith, and to believe in the resurrection power of Christ.

            We are to judge ourselves, make corrections, and pray continually.  Our prayer Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way [of unbelief or rebellion] in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”—through the straight gate to eternal life—which is only by trusting in faith on the shed Blood of Christ!