Ezekiel 44:1–2 (ESV):
“Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east. And it was shut. And the Lord said to me, ‘This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut.’”
Introduction:
As time progresses, the world around us changes—and unfortunately, much of that change is not for the better. What was once considered evil is now normalized, and morality continues to decline. Each day that passes makes salvation more difficult to find in people’s hearts. What was once common conviction is now rare. As evil multiplies, the grace that brings salvation becomes harder to access—not because God has changed, but because humanity has wandered further from Him.
The passage in Ezekiel 44 speaks of a prophetic gate on the east side of the temple—sealed because the Lord Himself entered through it. While this was a literal gate in the vision given to Ezekiel, it also holds symbolic meaning. It represents an access point to the presence of God—a gate that once was open, but is now shut permanently.
This gate signifies God’s grace—initially wide open, but eventually closed.
From a Gate to a Narrow Door
In the New Testament, Jesus references this same spiritual access—but He no longer refers to it as a large gate. Instead, He describes it as a narrow door.
Luke 13:24–25 (ESV):
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’”
Did you notice the change?
In the Old Testament, it was a “gate”—large, grand, symbolic of wide grace available to all. But in Jesus’ words, it becomes a “narrow door”—harder to find, harder to enter.
Why? Because the times have changed.
Originally, God’s plan was for everyone—Jew and Gentile alike—to have easy access to salvation. The gospel was to be proclaimed freely, and the invitation to eternal life extended broadly. But as sin increases and the hearts of people grow colder, the way to salvation becomes increasingly narrow—not because God is restrictive, but because people are distracted and deceived by many other “doors” that lead to destruction.
Jesus warned of this in Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV):
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
The Door Will Be Shut
The time will come when this narrow door will be closed—just like the eastern gate in Ezekiel’s vision.
Jesus continues in Luke 13, describing a time when people will try to enter but it will be too late:
Luke 13:26–27 (ESV):
“Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’”
There will be people who were familiar with Jesus in name, who heard His teachings, attended church services, or even participated in religious activities. But if they never truly entered through that narrow door—by faith, repentance, and a life of obedience—they will be turned away.
This is not to scare anyone but to awaken us to reality. Salvation is not something to be postponed or taken lightly. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when people realize they ignored the very door that leads to life.
Make It Personal
This message isn’t about your family, your neighbors, or your church—it’s about you.
Will you be inside or outside when the door is shut? What will you say when asked why you ignored so many chances?
Jesus is the only door to eternal life.
John 10:9 (ESV):
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
He is still calling. The door is still open—but it’s narrow, and it requires surrender. It means choosing to follow Jesus even when it’s hard, even when others mock you, even when the world offers easier paths.
Today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV):
“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Final Call
Don’t wait until the door is shut. Don’t wait until you hear, “I never knew you.” Surrender your life to Christ. Be baptized (Acts 2:38), be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), and live a life worthy of the calling.
The gate has changed. The door is now narrow. But it’s still open—for now.
May the Lord bless you and give you the courage to enter through the narrow door before it’s too late.