Luke 13: 22 - 30  Someone asks Jesus an important question. "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?"   Jesus gives us an answer that the world needs to hear:

There is a narrow door - According to Strong's, this word for narrow "stenos" means narrow from obstacles standing close about.  There are many obstacles in this world that keep us from entering the Kingdom.  We have to "strive" to enter, Jesus tells us.  Strive - "agonizomai" -struggle, contend, compete-as for a prize; endeavor to accomplish; fight, labor fervently.   " ... for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."    They won't be able, because they wait too long.  They let the obstacles keep them from following Jesus.  The door is closed. The Master will not open it again.

"There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there... "  On the outside, looking in.  With regret and sorrow, they will see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, along with the prophets and believers who will come from the east, west, north and south.  All eating at the table in the Kingdom of God.

This is a sobering and vital message.  None can enter the Kingdom of God without first finding the narrow way and then striving to enter through it.  That reminds me of the letters to the churches in the book of Revelations;  Over and over again Jesus says, " He who overcomes..."
Rev. 2: 7  " To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God."
2:11 "He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."
2:17 "To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows, but he who receives it."
2:26 " And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations."
3:5 "He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
3:12 " He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new Name."
3:21 "He who overcomes, I grant to him to sit down with My Father on His throne."

Jesus precedes each promise to the overcomes with these words, " He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Entering the Kingdom of God is simple but it is not easy.  We enter by being born again, by believing in Jesus and following Him.  But, we must persevere.  We must strive. We must be overcomers.
We must hear what God is saying and we must heed His Words. We must be intentional and active followers of Christ. Every day!

Our Wonderful Father, Your promises are great! We long for the day when we will join the saints in the Kingdom of Light, when we will eat at Your table and be in Your Presence forever more.  Help us to continue on this path along the narrow way.  Remove the temptations that become obstacles  and chains that so easily bind us.  Lead us in the ways of righteousness and deliver us from evil.  Make our paths straight and strengthen us by Your Spirit today we pray. In Jesus' Name. Amen.