The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 13:24,
"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."
This was Jesus response when asked if only a few would be saved. In his response he said many would try to enter but will not be able to. What I take from his response is that, yes, only a few, relatively speaking. Of the many, many will not be able to. Jesus spoke of a time of "weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out." Luke 13:28.
What is this "narrow door" and just how narrow is it? If God loves people why isn't the door big and wide?
We do know the Lord wants all to be saved, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:2. We read in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." God loves the world, he loves all, but not all will be saved.
In John's gospel we read, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. It is through Jesus Christ the way to heaven is found. And, specifically, it is trust, faith in him that brings us into his family: salvation. In many verses, such as John 1:12 we read of the faith God looks for, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." "We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law." Romans 3:28.
God loves all, God wants all. But, he takes only those who choose him, who embrace him, who love him and place their faith and trust in him. Because he chose to supply his Son to take the punishment for our sins so that we don't have to, it is through Jesus Christ and him only that we have access to God and can be saved.
The door is narrow. Folks have a proclivity to do things their own way and all who attempt to enter into the kingdom of God any other way will find themselves locked out on that day. For me, the mystery is not that only a few will be allowed into God's kingdom, but that he allows any at all. As I think about the sinful and rebellious nature of mankind and how mankind as a whole has turned its collective back on God, it is amazing he wants any of us. But, he does! He wants us all!
Remarkable!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
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