When I was young, I went out of my parent's house one day to take a walk and I happened upon two gates in a field. One was wide, the other narrow. I noticed other people were walking with me, people close to me in age. Most chose to go through this wide gate. It was appealing to the eyes. It was made of what appeared to be gold and shined mightily under the light of the sun. It seemed to have been made by the most skilled of metal workers. Its path appeared to be slightly down hill and was well lit.
The other gate, the narrow one, was rather dull. It had none of the appeal of the wide gate. It appeared to be made of wood and the path from its entrance was steep, uphill and shrouded by dense foliage which hang over it.
I looked at the two. I chose the wide one and entered therein. While on my journey, I encountered many people. Some were dressed very well, others not. Some were happy and excited, others were more somber and serious. Some were very intelligent, others not so. Some talked to me about their religion. Some talked to me about science. One thing they all had in common was that they were carefree and were happy they chose the path they were on. It was easy, comfortable, and though it had its small hills here and there and its dark valleys here and there, for the most part, life was good...
From time to time I would look to my right and see through into the other path leading steadily upward. Sometimes it would disappear totally from my sight, at others, I could see it clearly. I saw people on it from time to time, but not near as many as were on the path I was on. This gave me comfort. The people on the other path seemed not so carefree and happy as we were and this too gave me comfort.
As I sojourned, there came a point where I could not see the other path for quite some time. I realized then that I had traveled so far, that during the time, the paths had grown so far apart that I would no longer be able to see the other at all. Some noticed this as I did, but most just continued frolicking along singing songs and making merry.
As I continued, I noticed something peculiar. The path began to get more and more steep. At first it was gradual, but the further I walked, the more steep it became. Down, down, I went. The path lost its grassy softness and was overtaken by rocky gravel. I began moving fast at this point and I looked around me. Most everyone was having fun. They no longer had to put any effort into walking at all. They kind of just slid along the path.
Down....
Down.....
We went.
I became frightened. I no longer felt so sure of myself, and the choices I made. Some shared the sentiment. Most others laughed all the louder, smiling and looking at me with a gleam in their eyes which were red and bloodshot with dissipation. I knew I looked just like they did. Then I remembered briefly, them that were on that other path, how they were steadily ascending. I remember the looks on their faces. There was no gleam of madness in their eyes, no redness of dissipation. Their eyes were clear and bright, their countenance calm and resolute.
I tried to turn and go back, a way which was now too steep and rocky to ascend. I fell, down, down.
I looked over my shoulder as I dug my fingers into the rocky soil in a futile attempt to slow my speed and all of a sudden the path before us opened up and a pit of darkness received them that were ahead of me. They went in and disappeared from my sight. A few were as I was. Turned around, hands scraping, clawing for a hold. I closed my eyes and dug in and came to the edge......
When I opened my eyes I was hanging, suspended over the precipice. My strength failing me, my fingers bleeding under the nails as I cried in a frantic panic, certain of the impending darkness which I sensed wanted to devour my soul. I looked to my left. I looked to my right. No one was there to save me. We were all looking at each other, wide eyed with terror. Even if we had wanted to reach out to one another, to do so meant certain doom. I saw one scientist hanging there. Glasses all broken, suit all torn, one shoe on, the other having been swallowed by the pit. He no longer had his books in his hand. Then I saw one who had been religious hanging beside him. He no longer was making long winded prayers, he was no longer preaching about the merits of fasting and why his religion was to be preferred over the others. He was weeping as his grip loosened, crying out to Buddha, crying out to Muhammad, crying out to Joseph Smith, crying out to Jesus. He was sending up prayers to all the founders his terror stricken mind could call to remembrance as a last ditch effort to stave off his impending doom.
Then I remembered hearing about a man from Galilee. A man who gave sight to the blind. A man who caused the deaf to hear. A man who caused the lame to walk. A man who caused the blind to see. I remember hearing about a man who was a friend to tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners. A man who said come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I shall give you rest. A man who prayed for the people who had nailed Him to an old rugged cross.
One of my hands slipped, and I hung there dangling.
Then I remembered another man. It was told to me that he too was hanging on and old rugged cross. This man was a criminal, a man who had chosen the wide gate like I had. A man who had chosen the easy path. A man who had come to his wit's end as he hung there dying, certain death immanent. I remember it being told to me that he looked at this man from Galilee hanging beside him and confessed that he had done wrong and was receiving what he deserved. I remember it being told to me that he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Then, like a bolt of lighting, as all the strength I could muster gave way, the words of Jesus in response came to me, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
I was not even able to utter a word, so exhausted as I was. But I thought in my mind and with all my heart, Jesus, I have heard that you saved a criminal, a sinner like me. Save me.
With this last, I lost my grip and fell. I closed my eyes as the ledge receded. When I opened my eyes, I was standing on that narrow path I had chosen not to take what seemed an eternity ago. I looked to my right, and Jesus was standing there with me. The calmest, most peaceful presence I had ever sensed was with me. I sensed that in some fundamental way, I was different. I had the same body. My fingers were still scarred from the rocks. But my eyes were different. I saw the world in a new way. To my left were some kind strangers, and some familiar faces too. I did not have to ask Jesus what happened nor any that were in my company. I knew. I had passed from death into life. From darkness into light. I had been made a new creation, the old things had passed away, behold all things had become new. And with Jesus and my new family I set out on my journey.
But before I got too far, I asked Jesus if I could run back and see that wide gate one more time. He allowed me.
As I got to it, I saw it differently. It was no longer the amazing, shining, wonderful thing it once was. With my eyes now, I was able to see through the thin imitation gold veneer covering it. Underneath, it was not made of metal at all, but dead men's bones.
I knew then that it had all been a lie. A pretty lie. That the one who made it knew exactly what I would be attracted to and used that knowledge to deceive me, in order to devour my soul.
I ran back to Jesus and said, "but Lord, shall we not tear down this deceitful gate and leave only this narrow one here?"
His response caused me to fall to my knees in a terrible realization.
He said, "My child, everyone that comes to these gates has come from their parent's house. They now are accountable for the choices they make. They are no longer innocent and are no longer children. They are men and women who I love and have given the freedom to choose. I love them so much, that even after they choose the wide gate and the broad path, I leave little clues to remind them of my love for them on the path. Clues that I want them to see and turn back before the path gets too steep. Some see them and turn. Some see them and ignore them. I love them so much that I would never ask them to love me if that is not what they truly wanted. My love for them prevents me from forcing them to love me and to be with me. For some it will take coming to the end of themselves, just like it took you. I was with you all the way, waiting, watching, hoping that you would ask me to come into your life. The clues I have placed along the path are evidence enough for them that are willing to see them, but not so obvious as to be compelling to them that do not want to see them."
It all became clear to me now. Everything fell into place. With this assurance and knowledge, we returned to the narrow path and began our ascent....
I had to come to the end of myself, to live.
