Finding the Narrow Gate
Surrounding the tent which contained the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place stood a fortified curtain. This curtain created a courtyard which was much greater than the tent (only about 7% of the entire area was used by the tent). Everything inside the curtains was holy ground. This was the symbolic representation of Heaven. Here, the Israelites came to repent of their sins and be forgiven. They came to offer up thanksgiving to the Lord and make special vows of dedication to Him. Everything outside this curtain was the world. Inside was God’s domain. Even though the barrier around the courtyard was 300 cubits (450 feet or about 137 meters), the gateway was only 20 cubits (30 feet or about 9 meters). This entrance was the only way to enter into God’s representation of Heaven on earth.
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus taught about the way into heaven. He said, “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 it.” Later, in John 10:7-9, he said, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
All roads do not lead to heaven. Neither will any escape the sorting of sheep and goats where God denies Heaven’s joys to those who rejected Him. Jesus taught there is only one way into Heaven, just as God showed the Israelites with His guidelines for the construction of the curtain that created the courtyard. Jesus is the only gate, the only passage into the presence of God. That may not be a popular statement. It may irritate people. It may condemn us in the world’s eyes. However, consider the question Matthew Henry once asked, “What profit is there in being willing to go to Hell with others because they will not go the Heaven with us?”
The courtyard around the tabernacle was constructed of cloth. It was a barrier between the holy and the corrupt. Its purpose was in part symbolic. In reality, the obstruction between Heaven and Hell is much greater. In Jesus’ parable about the rich man and Lazarus, (Luke 16:19-31) the evil rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus with just a drop of water on his finger to cool his tongue. “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’”
One day the gateway will be closed. At that moment, it will be too late to change your ways. Waiting until your deathbed to repent has a major flaw, none of us knows when or how that will come. Are you willing to bet eternity on having the time? Remember, the foolish virgins who forgot to bring oil as they waited for the bridegroom were ultimately locked out of the wedding feast (Matthew 25:1-13). “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (verse 13)
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