Strive to Enter (The Strait Gate)
" Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, but shall not be able." —Luke 13:24 [KJV] Thou feeble-minded disciple, weak in faith, thy Jesus speaks not thus to discourage thee from seeking salvation by Him only; for He also says, "Every one that seeketh findeth." But rather He hereby animates and encourages thy soul in striving against every enemy that opposeth thy entering His kingdom by the strait gate, even by His one atonement, and one righteousness ONLY. He designs also to shew that men may not only SEEK, but STRIVE, yea, strive as in an agony " to enter in, but shall not be able. " Why? Because they expect to enter the kingdom by some other gate than Jesus . But, says the apostle, " No man is crowned, except he strives lawfully ." Earnestness, zeal, activity, avail nothing, while Jesus is not the ONLY object: His blood, the only plea for pardon; His righteousness, the only hope for acceptance