Striving

Dear reader, there is much strife upon this earth. Since the fall of Adam in Paradise, we have lost our peace with God and among each other. There is the strife for our daily existence and welfare in the significance of Genesis 3:17b, “…cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” Also consider verses 18 and 19, which speak about “thorns and thistles” and “the sweat of thy face,” which means nothing else than all the toil and the hardship we must endure to earn our daily bread.

There is strife in families when bitterness arises between husband and wife, children and parents, or vice versa. In Genesis 26:35 we read that Esau’s wives were a grief of mind unto Isaac and Rebekah (see also chapter 27:46). What sorrow and trouble there was later in the family of Jacob, of David, and of others in the Scriptures. There is strife in war. The world is never at peace; there are always contentions here or there between different countries.

There is strife for honor, high positions, advantages, profits. There is even much strife in churches, but there is only one kind of strife which is recommended. That is the strife referred to in our text: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate….” This is the safe strife whereof we read in 1 Timothy 6:12: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…” and in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is answering a person who came to Him with the question if many would be saved or not: “Lord, are there few that be saved?” Was this person concerned about himself? Was he a missing, seeking one who did not reveal this so plainly but was coming with a more common question about the number of the saved ones? We do not know this because Scripture does not say it. Yet, he and not only he but also all who were present there and all of us who read it, we all receive an answer: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.”

That strait gate is the entrance into the kingdom of heaven through the only Way, the Lord Jesus Christ, who calls Himself the Door in John 10:7&9. He does not predict an easy way to heaven but a difficult one for flesh and blood, and why is that, dear reader? Because as soon as the false rest is denounced in man’s life, the whole army of Satan is alarmed! World and flesh will make every effort to kill that newborn life. It is as it is written in Revelation 12:4b, “…and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.”

As soon as the Lord plants faith in a soul, this strife between flesh and blood will begin, and it shall not end until that soul is above all the strife in heaven. This strife is upon the estate of the true doctrine and of daily life. It is because of the principle of holiness planted in the hour of regeneration. It is also about becoming united with the Lord Jesus Christ in a lawful commitment and about becoming conformed to His image; not having our own righteousness but only His; not living in reliance upon our works, but upon His works, which we can never obtain other than by faith only, believing that He is that gift of the Father, given to be a ransom for many.

Oh, the more Christ may dwell in the heart of such a striving one, the more hatred from the side of the world and his own flesh is experienced. The more the disciples were united with their Master, following Him in the likeness of His death and later on in the likeness of His resurrection, the more they were hated by the Pharisees and Scribes. Why? Because these religious leaders did not rely upon the foundation of His works but upon their own works. They were blind for the purpose of His coming in the flesh and were thinking that all was well with them. They are mentioned by Christ in the second part of the text: “… for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Read in the following verses what they all brought forward thinking to be accepted, but it would all be too short. Oh, when His stamp upon it is missed, we shall not be able to enter in.

Therefore, people in that strife, strive not with carnal weapons, not to become the greatest one, but to be the smallest one; strive to break through the army of enemies. In that strife you must use the strongest weapon that was ever made—prayer. Use also the sharp sword of His Word. Believe that He goes before His flock in that strife, yea, that in Him all the enemies are already conquered. He will sometimes give rest when they need it, and in that rest, they receive a little foretaste of the final victory.

Reader, what is your strife? Boys, girls, do you have something of this strife? Realize that many will begin to strive, but not until it is too late, when the door is already closed (verse 25). This very strife has a beginning here, and that is during your lifetime, not thereafter. So, do not postpone it.

Striving ones, keep courage; the victory is sure in Him. No, you are not perfect in that strife; the admonition of Hebrews 12:12&13 is often suitable for you, yet God will stir His children up time and again. Christ was praying for Peter that his faith should not fail. Better a holy war than a false peace, and one day you will receive that true peace. Oh, what will that be for such a one who is so often discouraged!

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