“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find.” – Matthew 7:13-14

I read the word “destruction” and I automatically think end times. I ponder heaven/hell realities. But reading this week I wonder if I leave behind a deeper understanding? What if the narrow path is a walk of life, the wide path the road of a destructive life? A description of now.

At the most basic level if this world would set aside selfishness – if we would love our neighbor, then this world would work. Even when troubles arose**, then community would rally. Helping strangers would pour forth. And the giver would not have to worry about swindlers. We would work together. Trust our neighbors.

Imagine this world. Locksmiths would have to find another trade. But they would not go hungry. Jobs would be found and created. Because we would share, rather than hoard. I do not think we would give away, but we would find work for everyone.  Livable wages. Even if it means lower living standards for ourselves.

But this only begins to draw the picture. So much of the economy is built on force, protection, and accumulation. Not just locksmiths, but many jobs would disappear. But what would the bomb-makers do? Or lawyers? Or jailers? Or … New jobs would need to be created. The Art major may become a legitimate college degree!

This impossibility is easy when we love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

And so Christ came preaching to take hold of the Kingdom. Under His rule the foundation is built on on the foundation of loving God and loving our neighbor.

Yet a world bent on destruction is built on destruction. Destruction is its power. So His new way was destroyed. Or so it was thought… 

Our question is who will follow Him? Will we join the world walking in mass step – together, but aware of only ourselves – striding in destruction. Towards complete destruction. Or will we risk ourselves to love our neighbor. And in sacrifice find life.

“How can you stand next to the truth and not see it.” ~ U2, I’ll Go Crazy…
“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear.” ~ Matt 13:13

** Would trouble even arise? If sin is the root of ALL our darkness and brokenness – from violence to cancer – then in a  world without sin, is all creation healed? 
(I am not communicating that greater sinners are more likely to get cancer. I am speaking on societal term. A world broken by sin creates cancer. When unleashed it attacks without conscience.)