Monday, October 1, 2012

What's a Fish Gate?

"On that day," declares the LORD, "a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. Wail, you who live in the market district, all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with silver will be ruined. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent...".
 ~ Zephaniah 1;10-12 ~
The Fish gate was a gate people would go through through to get to the market place or the New Quarter, it was probably located closest to the fish portion of the market, hence the name. The market place back then was a very corrupt place and would be much like going to the mall today. A place where people can be very greedy and self centered. Both buyers and sellers, full of vanity and pride, lust, and greed. Many then and many still today think God does not punish or reward since they had not yet seen Him do it, in the day of the Lord however, God's judgement will come upon those who want nothing to do with the atoning sacrifice of Jesus but instead are more interested in shopping, taking advantage of each, the latest fashion trends, eating and drinking, money, entertainment, and finding the easy life. 

There is another gate however, Jesus said in Matthew 7:13 "enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter it"

Not only is Jesus the gate, He is also the shepherd. When a shepherd wants to lead his sheep out to graze, he comes through the gate and calls his sheep. Even if his sheep are mixed with another flock, only his sheep will follow him out of the gate. Sheep won't be deceived into following another shepherd because they recognize their shepherd's voice. They know to whom they belong. 
Jesus is the narrow gate! In John 10:9 Jesus say's, " I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved"

in John 10;1 Jesus tells us, ""Truly, I tell all of you with certainty, the person who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a bandit"

You can only choose one... which gate will you enter?

    



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