13"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
The fact that the way to life is through a narrow gate, that the way is difficult, that few go that way, and that the way to destruction is a wide gate, and many go that way is not surprising. When thought of as wide or narrow gates, as easy or difficult paths, it is obvious how easy it would be to follow the path of destruction. If you simply go with the flow, you too could be swept into the path of destruction. It is easy to let the difficulties of the path to life deter you from following that path.
But the surprising thing about what Jesus says here isn't just that there are few who go in by the narrow gate, but few who even find it. Probably the bigger question is how many are even trying to find it. The path to life isn't something that we will just happen upon. It won't simply one day be in front of us as we follow through the wide path that too many people are following. It isn't simply a fork in the road ahead of us with an obvious sign saying go this way to life and that way to destruction. There are those who will point the way for you, possibly your parents, your teachers, your pastors, your friends, your Bible. They might show you where to get on the path, but that doesn't mean you will find the narrow gate. By the way Jesus says it here, I believe finding the narrow gate is something you must do for yourself. And unless you do something yourself to search for it, you will not find it.
How do we do this? I don't think it is a coincidence that this verse is right after the previous one. The previous verse isn't there just to tell us to turn to God with all our wants, but to also go to Him for all our needs as well. He is there with us in all the difficulties and confusions of our life too. If life is difficult and there are so many things you need and you are tempted to instead go the easy way, ask and it will be given to you. If you are confused and need guidance about where the path to life is or you are worried that you are too far down the path to destruction, seek and you will find. If you know the way to go but you feel unworthy or feel it is impossible for you for any reason, knock and it will be opened to you. Ask, seek, knock, the gate is there and available for everyone and God will help you find it. But unless we actively try to find the narrow gate, we too will be swept down the path to destruction.