Sometimes even the simplest of chores can become might near impossible. For instance, getting’ a group of calves to go through a gate. Of course, if you didn’t want them to go or if the gate wasn’t open they would find a way to get right through it.
Like some of y’all, I have seen cattle choose to go through a bull tight six wire fence rather than go thru the open gate clearly on display before them. And if there has ever, ever, ever been a hot wire in that opening; they just ain’t going!
There has even been a ranch rodeo event made out of the situation. It’s called team penning. I’m always amused at how many calves seem to flat out refuse to cooperate when they are on public display out in the arena. Some calves also don’t seem to understand that going through the outside fence is not supposed to be an option. I guess we need to get the calves a copy of the rules. Now, there are different ways of doing ways such an event; I will mention one variation of those. To give some explanation, the contestants are given a number and they have to take that one and the next two numbered calves out of the herd in order and bring them around and put them in a pen on the other side of the arena. Now understand that the rest of the herd has to stay back behind a barrier line.
The pennin’ would seem plum easy if there were no little gate to have to get them to go through. I’ve seen some arenas set up with the pen out in the middle which make this even seem nearly impossible. It’s been my observation that most green wheat pasture calves that originally hail from some place like Florida just won’t go that way; thus, making it a competition of serious difficulty and great amusement.
I say all that to lead into the instruction Jesus give over in Matthew 7 about goin’ thru gates: 'Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.' (Matthew 7:13-14 nasb) Just like that wide open arena those calves were lookin’ at, the gate to hell is wide, and it’s sad, but scripture points out that a whole lot of good cowboys are goin’ that way.
But the gate to life in Christ is small, it’s practically a walk-thru gate and the trail is narrow and Jesus tells us there are few who find it.
There are just two gates and two trails, two choices in life. One is the trail Jesus made possible for us, and the other is… well, it’s like open range. Jesus describes His gate as small. Satan likes us to be on the broad trail.
It has to be a choice that we make. We decide to either open that gate to eternal life, enter in, and follow Christ or just keep on doin’ our own thing out on that wide road to destruction.
Jesus says it well in John 14: …'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.' If we miss Jesus’ gate then we miss life! So choose Jesus; give your life to Him! Ride for His brand!
Choose Jesus, choose life! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And y’all please KEEP PRAYIN’ for RAIN! It keeps the drought away! Amen.