I put the van in park and turned the ignition off. The sudden silence made the final words from the podcast even more loaded. “Every definition has a destination built into it.” Dr. Marlene McMillian, author of the book Mountains of Deceit, stated this as part of her interview regarding today’s tyrannical movement of globalism. She believes that one of the first steps in the strategy of this global takeover is capitalizing on people’s discontentment. This should not surprise believers since unthankfulness is listed in the initial descent of society’s moral tailspin (Romans 1).

I believe McMillian is right that every definition has a destination built into it, but I would add that every decision has a destination built into it. To be discontent is a decision. Romans 1:21 directly links this decision to the decision, “when they knew God, they glorified him not as God.”

Due to their discontentment, people worldwide are searching for something that satisfies them. You are possibly familiar with the label “gateway drugs,” which are lighter drugs that pushers know will get someone hooked and coming back for more supply and potency. While drugs get more attention, most people are going through their gateways as a result of their discontent, which leaves them hooked. I heard one man relay a conversation his wife had with a coworker who constantly complains about her job. When this man’s wife asked why she didn’t quit her job, the coworker said, “We love our toys too much.” They are hooked!

There is a problem in our world with these “gateways,” and you may be thinking, “I will not walk through any gateways, and I won’t get hooked.” I would suggest that this is impossible and not the proper solution. Every one of us will walk through a gateway because every decision has a destination built into it, and it is impossible not to decide since the decision not to make a decision is a decision!

The real decision you must make is which gateway you will walk through. Your natural discontentment alerts your soul that you need something more significant than what this material world can provide. The globalists know this, and they are trying to manipulate the system so people will see them and their leadership as the answer. What they are essentially doing is inserting themselves as god in this world.

The alert for your soul—discontentment—encourages you to seek satisfaction, which leads you to choose a gateway. Psalm 100 is the billboard with flashing lights, encouraging you to enter the gateway of devotion. The psalmist lets you know that those who enter this gateway of devotion are liberated from their discontentment, and you can hear a joyful noise on the other side. There is no bait and switch here. You are told clearly that the destination you will embark on involves serving the Lord, but with gladness, as you come before his presence with singing. You would naturally wonder why you would serve the Lord, and the psalmist anticipates that question by reminding you that the Lord is the Creator God of Genesis 1-2, who made you. You are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Now you have the facts you need to decide. What’s holding you back? As you go through the gateway of devotion, you start to feel the discontentment fall away as you enter his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. What began as steady steps of thankfulness turns into a dance of praise, blessing the Lord because you have found Him to be truly and eternally good. Chief among his good qualities are his mercy and his truth.

You have many gateways you can choose. Which one will you choose to enter? Will you choose one of the gateways of dependency or the exclusive, one-of-a-kind gateway of devotion? Examine the “gateways” you’re currently walking through. Are they leading you toward greater devotion to God or creating unhealthy dependencies? List your daily choices and evaluate their destinations.

Lord, help us to recognize the gateways before us and give us wisdom to choose paths that lead to the delightful destination—You. Transform our natural discontentment into a holy desire for Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.