It’s Hard

Luke 13:24 - Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

America has mastered the science of making life comfortable and easy. Through our technologic and economic mastery we have developed public utility systems providing reliable water and electricity that give every comfort imaginable. We have eradicated many once fatal diseases. We have generated an unimaginable number of gadgets and activities that have no purpose except to make life fun and pleasurable. Our “pursuit of happiness” has given most of us the expectation that life should be comfortable, easy, and fun all that time.

Jesus’ words in Luke 13:23-30 do not sound very American. “Strive” comes from the Greek word which gives us “agony.” It describes an all-out struggle. It is in the Greek middle voice which implies some effort from the one doing the action and some from the object of the action. In this case, it sounds like the door is fighting back. Getting through the right door is not always easy or comfortable. It requires a real struggle, but Jesus warns us it is worth the agony.

Are you in the midst of a struggle right now? Do not take a lack of ease and comfort in your life as a sign you are on the wrong path. More often than not the right path is hard. There may not be many on that road, but Jesus will be waiting for you at the end.