If you have traveled through airports much at all, no doubt there are times you have asked yourself or others, “Which gate? What time?”
The two questions, “Which gate?” and “What time?” possibly rule as the two biggest questions asked in any airport. Every traveler must answer those two questions. The shorter the layover, the more intense you may ask yourself these questions. The same goes for how large an airport out of which you choose to fly. The complications of getting quality answers to these questions pile high when you add different languages into the mix and different time zones. Add additional complications like a multi-person group or you being in charge of any size group, and these questions scream out for an answer – possibly really scream out from one or more of those traveling with you.
Just writing that previous paragraph gives me anxiety!
In planning the departure, hours before a flight actually takes off, a person at least questions when the flight is but maybe, depending upon the airport, may be interested in the gate information as well.
Airport Complications
If I really want to increase my anxiety and yours, I could tell you a few stories about airports where complications abounded. I’ll just share two from the same single trip.
When in China with a group of eleven, we traveled without a translator. Our translator met us at the final airport on the way into the country and at the first airport on the way out of the country. But in both instances, our travel plans included two airports in China.
On the way into the country, the plans called for switching airlines and then traveling another several hours to our location for the week. This meant we had to not only find the new airline (Chinese-based company), but also go through China’s customs process. On the way out of the country, thankfully, we did not change carriers but did however face customs in a completely unknown airport. Oh the complications.
On the way into China, we made it through customs. However, our second flight was cancelled. It took hours to get the simple answers to our questions, “Which gate?” “What time?” We eventually were forced to leave the airport and come back twenty-four hours later to catch the next plane. I’ll drop this story here because it was wild trying to figure out where to go, which hotel and section of the city to trust, and how to pay for it – all without a translator.
On the way out of China, we also made it through customs. In this instance though, the lines and unfamiliarity with the airport worked against us. We finally found a nice police officer who we showed out tickets and used hand signals to ask, “Which gate?” and “What time?” He pointed with his hand in the direction we were to go (thankfully, this time without our luggage since we remained on the same carrier) and only said two words, “Hurry! Hurry!” The entire group ran through this incredibly large airport and made it as they were ready to shut the doors on the plane.
Regarding these stories, I have just begun. But for your time and my anxiety I will not share more of them. The point remains important. If you travel through any airport you must know the answer to “Which gate?” and “What time?”
In Life, These Two Questions Are Important as Well
As you live your normal daily routines, these two questions, “Which gate?” and “What time?” beg for an answer as well. When you do not know these two answers, your jeopardy and potential anxiety increases. Let me explain what I mean.
Jesus referred to this while teaching His disciples and those around Him while He traveled. Not all the people who would flock around Him actually believed in Him or followed Him as the Messiah, God’s Son. Therefore, Jesus often taught similar themes as He went around Galilee and the surrounding regions. On more than one instance He discussed our two questions, Which gate? and What time?
In one instance, Jesus said:
And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:22-24)
He continued to explain what He meant through the use of this illustration:
When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 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 you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:25-30)
In other words, Jesus emphasized the same two questions that I have been discussing today and that everyone must ask if they are going to fly anywhere.
“Which gate?” and “What time?”
Which Gate? What Time?
Which Gate?
Jesus answered the question, “Which gate?” He told us the answer – the Narrow Gate. No number, just a description of its size. The narrow gate versus the other gates.
If you hope to get where you want to go – in this case with Jesus and with eternal life in heaven – then you must enter through the narrow gate.
Why would Jesus call it the narrow gate? Because of the exclusivity and specificity of this answer.
Just like when you plan to travel in an airport, you do not choose which gate through which you will fly. Instead, you go to the assigned gate and get on that particular plane so that you get to your desired location. You may have the desire to get where you want, but the airlines holds all the cards on how and when to get you there.
There may be multiple concourses and hundreds of gates, however, you must go to the one specific gate that gets you where you are supposed to go.
Jesus identified the gate to eternity with Him as the Narrow Gate. It is narrow because it is only through Jesus Christ. Jesus also said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Other gates to you may seem wise or hopeful like church attendance, being good and earning it, or through a particular denomination. However, only one gate gets you there – the narrow gate through Jesus Christ.
One additional point – don’t necessarily try to follow the crowd. You better listen to the One who knows the answers to these two questions.
What time?
The second question must be answered as well. Jesus does not provide us with a specific time, instead He uses an illustration and issues a command related to the urgency of getting to the right gate to be ready to fly into eternity.
Jesus responded two ways. First, Jesus issued a command. Second, Jesus told a story.
The command: strive to enter the Narrow Gate. This means to give all your effort to get over to the right gate before you run out of time. Whatever gate you have been standing in front of hoping to get to heaven, you had better reevaluate. If the gate you’ve been waiting at is not the Narrow Gate, then you better get humping over to the right gate. The right gate is Jesus Christ and Him alone in order to get into an eternity with Him.
How long do you have? What time?
This is where Jesus told His story. He explained that a Father gets up and shuts the door. When this happens, all those outside the door come and ask to be let in the door. The Father says, “I do not know you.” He eventually adds, “Depart from me all you who practice wickedness.”
Jesus uses the story to make His point and answer our question. If the gate gets closed (in Jesus’ story a door) and you are on the outside of it, then you miss out. Once the gate closes, it will not come open again. You will have metaphorically missed the flight.
One gate – Jesus Christ
The time is now – before the Father shuts the gate.
Since you do not know when Jesus will come again (one way the door gets shut) or when you will die (the other way the gate gets shut by the Father on you as an individual), you had better be at the right gate, right now.
Which Gate? The Narrow One
What Time? Imminently
Friend, since you do not know When, you need to hustle over right now to the right gate. You do not have a moment to spare.
Back to the airport… I have run through my share of airports simply because there was no time to delay. I had to get there ASAP in order to catch my ride to the final destination of my choosing.
You are in that same situation today. The time in right now to get to the Narrow Gate.
What time?
Two realities rule this day: 1) Jesus could come back today and the door is forever shut, or 2) you could die.
You may believe that the likelihood of either is small. However, your timetable fails to matter. God’s timetable rules. In God’s plan, Jesus could come back today. Further, you could die.
The advice we received in China works to answer these two questions as well.
Which gate? He pointed in the right direction. Friend, Jesus Christ alone is that gate.
What time? He said, “Hurry! Hurry!” Friend, there’s no time to waist.
Image Credit CHUTTERSNAP
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