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The Three Gates

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 19, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 19.

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The Three Gates

By H. A. St. John

1. THE WIDE GATE

WIDE is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." Matt. 7:13. Thus spoke Jesus, the greatest teacher the world ever knew.
All morally accountable beings in this world have passed through this wide gate into the broad way, for all have sinned, and thus come short of the glory of God. There is a way of escape from that broad way; but sad to say, only the few of every generation seek and find it.
The broad way is down grade, easy of access, and can be traveled without watchfulness or prayer; and the great majority of the human race choose to walk therein. In this broad way may be found kings and queens, emperors and empresses, high officials in great numbers, the learned and the unlearned, highly educated and educators, many persons of great wealth, together with an innumerable company in all the walks of life — all in the broad way that leads to certain and eternal destruction. Those who travel the broad way to the close of mortal life, will, in the end thereof, find no way of escape from the eternal loss of everything, even of life itself.

2. THE STRAIT GATE

Praise God for His wonderful love, manifested to a world of sinners, in the gift of His dear Son. Jesus has opened a way of escape from the broad way. It is through a strait gate, into a narrow way that leads to everlasting life. Matt. 7:14.
God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that all who would accept Him might not perish, but have everlasting life. The strait gate is accessible to all, and is entered by repentance, and faith in Christ. And then, having entered upon the narrow way through the strait gate, we may ever walk the straight and upward path, by fixing our eyes upon Jesus, and walking in His footsteps.
It is a well-lighted path, being lighted by the word and Spirit of God, and shines more and more unto the perfect day.
O, how sad to think that so few hear the gracious call of the gospel of Jesus to come and walk in the way of peace, joy, and everlasting life! What a testimony to the deceitfulness of sin and the power of Satan is all this fearful negligence!
Reader, are you walking in the narrow way to life? If so, keep your lamp trimmed and brightly burning, that others around you, seeing your good works, may be led to walk in the same heavenly way, to the realms of eternal bliss.

3. GATES OF PEARL

"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14.
This glorious city of New Jerusalem is at the end of the narrow way. This holy city of Zion is the Father's house of many mansions, in which Jesus will have places prepared for all who persevere in the narrow way till the end of mortal life.
Jesus will come for them. He will awaken to life all the sleeping ones, and all will change corruptible, mortal, vile bodies, for incorruptible, immortal, and glorious bodies; and then, through the gates of pearl, they will enter Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads. And so shall they ever be with the Lord.
H. A. ST. JOHN.