Last summer, we had the opportunity to go to Hilton Head, South Carolina for a family vacation. The place where we stayed had a gate that led to beach access a short walk away. The first day we were there, it seemed like a really long walk. I’m sure I heard a few complaints from the troops. In response to the question, “Are we there yet?”, I remember repeating several times, “We’re almost there.” We eventually made it and it was worth the effort. In fact, each day the walk got easier and the complaints fewer. We made some great memories and had a really good time.
But what if, after passing through the gate, we had just sat ourselves down and didn’t take the five-minute walk? What if we would have given up that first day because the walk was too hard and long? We would have missed out on our whole purpose in going through the gate in the first place; in the end, we would have missed out on the major point of the vacation.
Nephi talks about being in the “straight and narrow path” once we have entered the “gate”. That gate is baptism. He then asks, “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?” (2 Nephi 31:19). The answer is no. Just like my family had a path to walk to reach the beach after passing through the gate, once we have entered the gate of baptism, we cannot just sit and not continue on.
“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20).
There are great things and eternity ahead. Don’t miss the point of going through the gate in the first place because you give up once you are through it. In the end, it will be worth the effort to endure to the end. So, once you’re through the gate, keep walking–you’re almost there.
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