Perspective

What hits you as you ponder today’s image?

I love looking at photos like this. There are so many nuances to take in. Black letters against a white wall. Toothpick streetlights against massive downtown buildings. Public art and natural vegetation. Ominous clouds. Maybe I’m a little too introspective, but that’s why I enjoy photography.

In this case, though, the contrasts aren’t what caused me to take the photo or linger over it. It’s the perspective.

Perspective gives the illusion of depth to a photograph. It is the spatial relationship of one object to another, or to the background. In this image, I’m drawn to the perspective as shown through the sidewalk, guardrail and streetlights.

We know the sidewalk is the same width from right in front of us to the very end. But it appears to narrow as you get closer to the horizon. The guardrail is the same height, but it appears smaller the farther you go. The streetlights seem smaller and closer together. Even the letters in SOUTH END show perspective. The S and O appear to touch each other while the N and D are spaced apart.

The photo’s perspective reminds me of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7.

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“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, NASB)

As I think about the wide sidewalk closest to me, I think about the wide gate Jesus mentions. There’s room for many. Many desires, ideas, and philosophies. Why, it’s practically a free for all. As verse thirteen says, “the way is broad.” Many like the broad way. It’s not infringing on their personal opinions about what makes them happy, satisfied, or comfortable.

Unfortunately, broadness leads to destruction.

Spiritually speaking, all those personal preferences that focus on self can lead us away from God.

This brings me to the far end of the sidewalk. It’s the opposite of a free for all. It reminds me of the narrow gate.

The narrow gate is tight and constricting. To maneuver through the narrow way, we must give up self. We have to put aside prideful desires. To be sure, the Bible teaches us that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The amazing thing about that is its simplicity.

But simple doesn’t mean easy. Jesus taught that few enter the narrow gate while many enter the wide gate. That’s because as humans, we don’t want to give up our pride, desires, ideas, and philosophies. We constantly fight against ourselves to do the right things.

If you find yourself in that battle, I encourage you to remember one thing. The narrow gate, while uncomfortable in today’s world, leads to life.

Notice the perceived end of the sidewalk looks tiny in the photo. Almost coming to a point. Similarly, the narrow gate in Matthew is actually so narrow, it is a point. That point is Jesus. He is the narrow gate.

Is entering through the narrow gate difficult for you? Please share your experience with perspective.

Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.