Through the Narrow Way

If you were to ask me what the Strait of Hormuz was just one month ago, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you if it was even a real place, much less where it is. One month later, there is so much reporting and focus on the Strait of Hormuz that I could probably draw a decent sketch of the Strait and its surrounding countries.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a major talking point because this narrow waterway is a key passage for crude oil and other critical products exported out of the Arabian Gulf. Following the start of the war in March, Iran has effectively closed off the passageway, causing hundreds of ships to be stuck in the Arabian Gulf, stopping the flow of vital oil and energy exports to the rest of the world, especially Asia. The ramifications are far-ranging and wide, and Singapore’s government has convened the Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee to review and address the impacts of this development to the lives of Singaporeans.

For those who have not been following the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, it might be surprising to know that such a narrow and previously unheard-of waterway would have such wide-ranging global importance.

When I read about the developments in the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, I am reminded of a biblical illustration.  In Matthew 19:24, Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

The image is striking – the eye of a needle is very small, while a camel is a very large animal. A camel cannot pass through the eye of a needle unless something changes – the camel must become smaller. To do so, it might have to lose its legs, its hump, its fats – anything that is not essential and can be shed, must be shed. Jesus spoke these words after meeting the rich young ruler – a man who desired eternal life yet went away sorrowful because he was asked to give up his possessions. This rich young ruler was not ready to let go. A story is told of a trap that catches monkeys by placing nuts at the bottom of a jar with a narrow mouth – when the monkey reaches in to get the nuts, its hand is stuck and the monkey is captured not because it cannot escape, but because it refused to let go.

Jesus teaches that “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life” (Matthew 7:13-14). Since Jesus teaches that the way is narrow, then we must realise that we would have to release and let go of the things that might prevent us from entering through the narrow passageway.

What might these things be? The following are some things that we might be unknowingly holding on to.

1. Material possessions

In the context of Matthew 19, the rich young ruler was holding on to his wealth and his possessions. Possessions themselves are not wrong, but when they take priority over God, they become a barrier. We are warned that “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10) and are taught instead to “lay up… treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). In uncertain times, it might be tempting to feel like we need to do more to increase our stockpiles and buffer against the unexpected. The problem might not manifest only in the pursuit for more, but might also be present in the form of aversion to loss. Perhaps we might feel that we cannot take risks or make changes for the betterment of our spiritual lives, for fear that we might lose our jobs. To walk the narrow way, we must learn to loosen our grip on earthly things and trust God above all.

2. Past sins and old lifestyles

We cannot move forward while clinging to what belongs in the past. True repentance means a change of direction. The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Just as a runner would remove heavy items and wear lightweight attire, we are called to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1). We are currently going through a series of lessons on moral issues in the combined Adults and Young Adults bible class on Sundays. It might be that some of the issues may be things that we have done in the past, or perhaps even things that we might be doing now – knowingly or unknowingly. Many of the controversies in these issues arise because of an unwillingness to change and trying to justify carrying these sins with us on the narrow way.

3. Ease and comfort

Serving God often requires sacrifice, and Jesus calls for the follower to “deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Participating in church-organised activities may take time out of our weekends and public holidays; teaching and preparing bible classes may require staying up late after taking care of our family and work commitments. Being overly possessive of our personal “me-time” may cause us to shy away from wanting to do more in terms of serving God.

4. Personal inhibitions

Fear and self-consciousness often hold us back from stepping forward to serve or speaking about our faith to others. But as Paul reminded Timothy, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Continuing to harbour thoughts such as “I can’t do this” or “I’m not the warm or friendly type” can prevent us from realising our true potential. Moses thought of himself as being one who could not speak well (Exodus 4:10), yet we read the power in his final speech as he addressed the people in Deuteronomy 31. Moses may not have been born a natural orator but he certainly became one. The key was his willingness to take the first step, and as the saying goes, “practice makes perfect”. Let us be careful not to let our inhibitions hold us back from moving forward in our service to God.

Conclusion

Narrow ways are not easy to traverse. The Strait of Hormuz reminds us how something narrow can be easily blocked and prevent passage through. In the same way, the path to life that Jesus speaks of is not broad or easy – but it is open to those who are willing to change and let go in order to pass through. The encouragement that the Bible gives to us is that if we are willing to let go, we will find that what lies ahead is far greater than anything we leave behind (Matthew 13:45-46).