JESUS CHRIST – THE GATE TO ETERNAL LIFE
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Jesus Christus – die Poort na die Ewige Lewe”
Someone wrote to me and asked where they can read about a gate through which we, as Christians, will enter heaven.
They read about the 12 gates for the tribes of Israel, but what about you and me, who are not Israelites?
Quickly read Revelation 21:12 because I want to show you something.
Revelation 21:12 – It had a high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates were twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.
Do you see that?
Nowhere do we read that these gates are for Israelites only, or that at certain gates only certain people can or may enter.
These were simply the names of the gates.
I have seen this so many times in my life since I started working for our Lord.
Sometimes we read something in the Word and then make certain conclusions, but the conclusion we make at that moment is not what is written in the Word.
We read something and sometimes wrongly combine things and then make incorrect assumptions.
This also reminds me of the myth about the 3 wise men.
Nowhere in the Word, for example, do we read that there were exactly 3 wise men who came from the east to Jesus, but because they brought 3 gifts, namely “gold, frankincense, and myrrh,” many people assume there were 3 wise men.
I’ve even heard a preacher speak about the “3 wise men” in his sermon.
We read:
Matthew 2:1-2 – Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
Just for the sake of interest, I’ll share another example of how people read something in the Word but then misinterpret it.
Someone will quote and say, “It is written in the Word that ‘money is the root of all evil.’“
That may be what I understand when I read that part of the Word, but that is not what is written.
We read:
1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Do you see?
It is the love of money, not money itself, that is the evil.
Money itself is neither good nor bad.
I mention this just because sometimes people read something in the Word, misunderstand it, and then easily say that the way they understand it is how it is written in the Word.
Now, I will focus further on the portion of the question asked to me, as I understand and have summarized it:
“Where can I read about a gate through which you and I can enter heaven?”
As you have now seen, if you want an example of a gate for the Christian to heaven, you can use the 12 gates with their different names as examples, but we also read:
Matthew 7:13-14 – “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
In Luke, we read:
Luke 13:23-25 – Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”
He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside, knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.'”
Personally, I don’t wonder about how the gate will look or whether there will literally be a gate through which I will enter.
For me, it’s wonderful to know that when I leave this life, I will enter through Jesus:
I echo my great hero Paul’s words:
Philippians 1:21 – For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
For now, I want to encourage you to also reason this way –
I try to stay on the narrow way to the best of my ability and allow Christ to lead me.
Because I know:
John 14:6 – Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
So, if I truly believe what you just read and accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, and follow Him through this life, I will reach the Father, and that is what I do to the best of my ability and proclaim.
It’s important to note here that just believing in God alone will not keep me from hell.
Satan and all the evil spirits also believe in God.
James 2:19 – You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
You must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour:
John 1:12 – But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
Because you see, it doesn’t matter what the gate looks like or where that gate is.
The glorious reality is this:
John 14:6 – Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
John 10:7 – So he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.”
John 10:9 – Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
Sakkie