{"id":45130,"date":"2020-11-26T23:27:52","date_gmt":"2020-11-26T20:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45130"},"modified":"2025-05-09T14:02:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T11:02:55","slug":"the-gate-has-changed-ezekiel-441-2-luke-1324-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/11\/26\/the-gate-has-changed-ezekiel-441-2-luke-1324-29\/","title":{"rendered":"THE GATE HAS CHANGED (Ezekiel 44:1\u20132, Luke 13:24\u201329)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ezekiel <\/span>44:<\/span>1\u2013<\/span>2 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
\u201c<\/span>Then <\/span>he <\/span>brought <\/span>me <\/span>back <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>outer <\/span>gate <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>sanctuary, <\/span>which <\/span>faces <\/span>east. <\/span>And <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>shut. <\/span>And <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>said <\/span>to <\/span>me, \u2018<\/span>This <\/span>gate <\/span>shall <\/span>remain <\/span>shut; <\/span>it <\/span>shall <\/span>not <\/span>be <\/span>opened, <\/span>and <\/span>no <\/span>one <\/span>shall <\/span>enter <\/span>by <\/span>it, <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Lord, <\/span>the <\/span>God <\/span>of <\/span>Israel, <\/span>has <\/span>entered <\/span>by <\/span>it. <\/span>Therefore <\/span>it <\/span>shall <\/span>remain <\/span>shut.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Introduction:<\/span><\/strong>
As <\/span>time <\/span>progresses, <\/span>the <\/span>world <\/span>around <\/span>us <\/span>changes\u2014<\/span>and <\/span>unfortunately, <\/span>much <\/span>of <\/span>that <\/span>change <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>better. <\/span>What <\/span>was <\/span>once <\/span>considered <\/span>evil <\/span>is <\/span>now <\/span>normalized, <\/span>and <\/span>morality <\/span>continues <\/span>to <\/span>decline. <\/span>Each <\/span>day <\/span>that <\/span>passes <\/span>makes <\/span>salvation <\/span>more <\/span>difficult <\/span>to <\/span>find <\/span>in <\/span>people\u2019s <\/span>hearts. <\/span>What <\/span>was <\/span>once <\/span>common <\/span>conviction <\/span>is <\/span>now <\/span>rare. <\/span>As <\/span>evil <\/span>multiplies, <\/span>the <\/span>grace <\/span>that <\/span>brings <\/span>salvation <\/span>becomes <\/span>harder <\/span>to <\/span>access\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>because <\/span>God <\/span>has <\/span>changed, <\/span>but <\/span>because <\/span>humanity <\/span>has <\/span>wandered <\/span>further <\/span>from <\/span>Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>passage <\/span>in <\/span>Ezekiel <\/span>44 <\/span>speaks <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>prophetic <\/span>gate <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>east <\/span>side <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>temple\u2014<\/span>sealed <\/span>because <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>Himself <\/span>entered <\/span>through <\/span>it. <\/span>While <\/span>this <\/span>was <\/span>a <\/span>literal <\/span>gate <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>vision <\/span>given <\/span>to <\/span>Ezekiel, <\/span>it <\/span>also <\/span>holds <\/span>symbolic <\/span>meaning. <\/span>It <\/span>represents <\/span>an <\/span>access <\/span>point <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>presence <\/span>of <\/span>God\u2014<\/span>a <\/span>gate <\/span>that <\/span>once <\/span>was <\/span>open, <\/span>but <\/span>is <\/span>now <\/span>shut <\/span>permanently.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>gate <\/span>signifies <\/span>God’s <\/span>grace<\/span><\/em>\u2014<\/span>initially <\/span>wide <\/span>open, <\/span>but <\/span>eventually <\/span>closed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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From <\/span>a <\/span>Gate <\/span>to <\/span>a <\/span>Narrow <\/span>Door<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In <\/span>the <\/span>New <\/span>Testament, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>references <\/span>this <\/span>same <\/span>spiritual <\/span>access\u2014<\/span>but <\/span>He <\/span>no <\/span>longer <\/span>refers <\/span>to <\/span>it <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>large <\/span>gate. <\/span>Instead, <\/span>He <\/span>describes <\/span>it <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>narrow <\/span>door<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke <\/span>13:<\/span>24\u2013<\/span>25 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
\u201c<\/span>Strive <\/span>to <\/span>enter <\/span>through <\/span>the <\/span>narrow <\/span>door. <\/span>For <\/span>many, <\/span>I <\/span>tell <\/span>you, <\/span>will <\/span>seek <\/span>to <\/span>enter <\/span>and <\/span>will <\/span>not <\/span>be <\/span>able. <\/span>When <\/span>once <\/span>the <\/span>master <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>house <\/span>has <\/span>risen <\/span>and <\/span>shut <\/span>the <\/span>door, <\/span>and <\/span>you <\/span>begin <\/span>to <\/span>stand <\/span>outside <\/span>and <\/span>to <\/span>knock <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>door, <\/span>saying, \u2018<\/span>Lord, <\/span>open <\/span>to <\/span>us,\u2019 <\/span>then <\/span>he <\/span>will <\/span>answer <\/span>you, \u2018<\/span>I <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>know <\/span>where <\/span>you <\/span>come <\/span>from.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Did <\/span>you <\/span>notice <\/span>the <\/span>change?<\/span>
In <\/span>the <\/span>Old <\/span>Testament, <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>a \u201c<\/span>gate\u201d\u2014<\/span>large, <\/span>grand, <\/span>symbolic <\/span>of <\/span>wide <\/span>grace <\/span>available <\/span>to <\/span>all. <\/span>But <\/span>in <\/span>Jesus\u2019 <\/span>words, <\/span>it <\/span>becomes <\/span>a \u201c<\/span>narrow <\/span>door\u201d\u2014<\/span>harder <\/span>to <\/span>find, <\/span>harder <\/span>to <\/span>enter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why? <\/span>Because <\/span>the <\/span>times <\/span>have <\/span>changed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Originally, <\/span>God’s <\/span>plan <\/span>was <\/span>for <\/span>everyone\u2014<\/span>Jew <\/span>and <\/span>Gentile <\/span>alike\u2014<\/span>to <\/span>have <\/span>easy <\/span>access <\/span>to <\/span>salvation. <\/span>The <\/span>gospel <\/span>was <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>proclaimed <\/span>freely, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>invitation <\/span>to <\/span>eternal <\/span>life <\/span>extended <\/span>broadly. <\/span>But <\/span>as <\/span>sin <\/span>increases <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>hearts <\/span>of <\/span>people <\/span>grow <\/span>colder, <\/span>the <\/span>way <\/span>to <\/span>salvation <\/span>becomes <\/span>increasingly <\/span>narrow\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>because <\/span>God <\/span>is <\/span>restrictive, <\/span>but <\/span>because <\/span>people <\/span>are <\/span>distracted <\/span>and <\/span>deceived <\/span>by <\/span>many <\/span>other \u201c<\/span>doors\u201d <\/span>that <\/span>lead <\/span>to <\/span>destruction<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus <\/span>warned <\/span>of <\/span>this <\/span>in <\/span>Matthew <\/span>7:<\/span>13\u2013<\/span>14 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
“<\/span>Enter <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>narrow <\/span>gate. <\/span>For <\/span>the <\/span>gate <\/span>is <\/span>wide <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>way <\/span>is <\/span>easy <\/span>that <\/span>leads <\/span>to <\/span>destruction, <\/span>and <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>enter <\/span>by <\/span>it <\/span>are <\/span>many. <\/span>For <\/span>the <\/span>gate <\/span>is <\/span>narrow <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>way <\/span>is <\/span>hard <\/span>that <\/span>leads <\/span>to <\/span>life, <\/span>and <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>find <\/span>it <\/span>are <\/span>few.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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The <\/span>Door <\/span>Will <\/span>Be <\/span>Shut<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The <\/span>time <\/span>will <\/span>come <\/span>when <\/span>this <\/span>narrow <\/span>door <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>closed\u2014<\/span>just <\/span>like <\/span>the <\/span>eastern <\/span>gate <\/span>in <\/span>Ezekiel\u2019s <\/span>vision.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus <\/span>continues <\/span>in <\/span>Luke <\/span>13, <\/span>describing <\/span>a <\/span>time <\/span>when <\/span>people <\/span>will <\/span>try <\/span>to <\/span>enter <\/span>but <\/span>it <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>too <\/span>late:<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke <\/span>13:<\/span>26\u2013<\/span>27 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
\u201c<\/span>Then <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>begin <\/span>to <\/span>say, \u2018<\/span>We <\/span>ate <\/span>and <\/span>drank <\/span>in <\/span>your <\/span>presence, <\/span>and <\/span>you <\/span>taught <\/span>in <\/span>our <\/span>streets.\u2019 <\/span>But <\/span>he <\/span>will <\/span>say, \u2018<\/span>I <\/span>tell <\/span>you, <\/span>I <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>know <\/span>where <\/span>you <\/span>come <\/span>from. <\/span>Depart <\/span>from <\/span>me, <\/span>all <\/span>you <\/span>workers <\/span>of <\/span>evil!\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

There <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>people <\/span>who <\/span>were <\/span>familiar <\/span>with <\/span>Jesus <\/span>in <\/span>name, <\/span>who <\/span>heard <\/span>His <\/span>teachings, <\/span>attended <\/span>church <\/span>services, <\/span>or <\/span>even <\/span>participated <\/span>in <\/span>religious <\/span>activities. <\/span>But <\/span>if <\/span>they <\/span>never <\/span>truly <\/span>entered <\/span>through <\/span>that <\/span>narrow <\/span>door\u2014<\/span>by <\/span>faith, <\/span>repentance, <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>life <\/span>of <\/span>obedience\u2014<\/span>they <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>turned <\/span>away.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>to <\/span>scare <\/span>anyone <\/span>but <\/span>to <\/span>awaken <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>reality. <\/span>Salvation <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>something <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>postponed <\/span>or <\/span>taken <\/span>lightly. <\/span>There <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>weeping <\/span>and <\/span>gnashing <\/span>of <\/span>teeth <\/span>when <\/span>people <\/span>realize <\/span>they <\/span>ignored <\/span>the <\/span>very <\/span>door <\/span>that <\/span>leads <\/span>to <\/span>life.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Make <\/span>It <\/span>Personal<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This <\/span>message <\/span>isn\u2019t <\/span>about <\/span>your <\/span>family, <\/span>your <\/span>neighbors, <\/span>or <\/span>your <\/span>church\u2014<\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>about <\/span>you<\/span><\/em>.<\/span>
Will <\/span>you <\/span>be <\/span>inside <\/span>or <\/span>outside <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>door <\/span>is <\/span>shut? <\/span>What <\/span>will <\/span>you <\/span>say <\/span>when <\/span>asked <\/span>why <\/span>you <\/span>ignored <\/span>so <\/span>many <\/span>chances?<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>only <\/span>door<\/span><\/em> to <\/span>eternal <\/span>life.<\/span><\/p>\n

John <\/span>10:<\/span>9 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
\u201c<\/span>I <\/span>am <\/span>the <\/span>door. <\/span>If <\/span>anyone <\/span>enters <\/span>by <\/span>me, <\/span>he <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>saved <\/span>and <\/span>will <\/span>go <\/span>in <\/span>and <\/span>out <\/span>and <\/span>find <\/span>pasture.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

He <\/span>is <\/span>still <\/span>calling. <\/span>The <\/span>door <\/span>is <\/span>still <\/span>open\u2014<\/span>but <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>narrow, <\/span>and <\/span>it <\/span>requires <\/span>surrender. <\/span>It <\/span>means <\/span>choosing <\/span>to <\/span>follow <\/span>Jesus <\/span>even <\/span>when <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>hard, <\/span>even <\/span>when <\/span>others <\/span>mock <\/span>you, <\/span>even <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>world <\/span>offers <\/span>easier <\/span>paths.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>day <\/span>of <\/span>salvation.<\/span><\/p>\n

2 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>6:<\/span>2 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
\u201c<\/span>Behold, <\/span>now <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>favorable <\/span>time; <\/span>behold, <\/span>now <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>day <\/span>of <\/span>salvation.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Final <\/span>Call<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t <\/span>wait <\/span>until <\/span>the <\/span>door <\/span>is <\/span>shut. <\/span>Don’t <\/span>wait <\/span>until <\/span>you <\/span>hear, <\/span>“<\/span>I <\/span>never <\/span>knew <\/span>you.”<\/span><\/em> Surrender <\/span>your <\/span>life <\/span>to <\/span>Christ. <\/span>Be <\/span>baptized (<\/span>Acts <\/span>2:<\/span>38), <\/span>be <\/span>filled <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit (<\/span>Ephesians <\/span>1:<\/span>13), <\/span>and <\/span>live <\/span>a <\/span>life <\/span>worthy <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>calling.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>gate <\/span>has <\/span>changed. <\/span>The <\/span>door <\/span>is <\/span>now <\/span>narrow. <\/span>But <\/span>it’s <\/span>still <\/span>open\u2014<\/span>for <\/span>now.<\/span><\/p>\n

May <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>bless <\/span>you <\/span>and <\/span>give <\/span>you <\/span>the <\/span>courage <\/span>to <\/span>enter <\/span>through <\/span>the <\/span>narrow <\/span>door <\/span>before <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>too <\/span>late.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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