Pentecost 11 (4)

Luke 13:22-30 (NIV) 22  Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23  Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, 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. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' 26 "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' 28 "There will be 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. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

The question that is asked of Jesus here was a common topic discussed by the religious teachers and probably the common people of the day. We have similar questions as we try to explore the intricacies of religion. But rather than pursue the answer to this question, Jesus shifts the attention from whether or not only a few will be saved to, “Make every effort to be included in the number of people who are saved.”

Jesus teaches several important truths here.

Heaven is a “gated community”. Although modern thought is that “all roads lead to heaven” and that in the end God will allow everyone who has ever lived to be saved regardless of their conduct, beliefs, relationship with Jesus etc.; the Bible teaches that “many will try to enter and will not be able to.”

I've heard from more than one person, "that all religions lead to the same God, there are just different ways to get there." I don't believe this for a minute, and thank our missionaries for their courage and love of all people to reach out in sharing God's truth. What can I say or where can I find more information on this subject to help them see and understand the truth?

You can pass along Scripture passages like these: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-15). “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36). “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). If God is allowed to speak for himself in his word, then it becomes clear that all religions do not lead to the same God.  There is salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  That truth, along with love for others, compels you and me to share the truths of Scripture.  God bless your efforts!

We can understand the illustration of a narrow door. Building codes for new structures insist that there be enough exits to accommodate a swift exit of a building by all its occupants in short period of time in case of an emergency. Tragedies have occurred when this was not the case. A more modern example than Jesus’ is in regard to traffic. When we went to Folly Beach (which is on an island), we were warned ahead of time that there is only one way in and one way out and that since most people rent from Saturday to Saturday, the traffic becomes very congested near check in and check out times. Major cities know how important having enough open lanes on the highway are important to good traffic flow. Jesus’ statement does not limit the number of people whom God wants to save, but makes the point that salvation for us is difficult.

Luke 18:23–27 NIV

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Therefore, Jesus teaches this important truth. Since salvation for us is difficult, we must give it our greatest attention.

“Make every effort” ἀγωνίζεσθε (agōnizesthe), a word often used in an athletic or a military context. It does not imply working for salvation but rather earnestness in seeking it (cf. its use regarding prayer in Col 4:12).

Colossians 4:12 NIV

12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

1 Timothy 6:11–12 (NIV)

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Colossians 1:28–29 (NIV)

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Hebrews 4:9–11 (NIV)

9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Are there areas in your lives in which you “make every effort” to be successful? Although we can enjoy many activities from leisure, hobbies, work, and skills without being experts at them, do we understand how much time and effort it takes to become an expert at something?

How to become an expert?

Practice, Practice, Practice: Malcolm Gladwell, the author of Outliers suggests that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at any one task. While that seems like a huge number, lets break it down. If you work a 40-hour week, and you spend every moment at work practicing that specific task at which you want to gain expertise, and you work a 50 weeks per year, it only takes about 5 years to hit the 10,000-hour mark. If you think you are going to remain healthy and love what you do professionally, then five years really is not that long. In order to be an expert, there’s no substitute for time. It takes dedication, discipline and focus. Becoming an expert requires a sincere, genuine desire to do the work. If you aren’t passionate about something, you won’t become an expert at it.

Never Stop Learning: You would think at some point experts will have learned everything they could learn to be, well, experts. Wrong. Experts never stop learning. As a matter of fact, most people once they become an expert, will commit to learning more. You see, once you are an expert and begin to enjoy the benefits of being an expert, you will want to stay an expert. So experts read more, continue to educate themselves through courses and workshops, regularly gather knowledge from other experts and so on.

If mastering a skill in this lifetime demands that much attention, how much more so dedicating ourselves to growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus deserve our full attention.

And he deserves it now. Luke 13:25 (NIV) 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

It always disturbs me when people tell me that they will wait until later to address matters related to their relationship with Jesus.

We are waiting until baptizing our child until we can get everyone together for the party.

My son is too busy with sports now to attend confirmation class.

I can’t join the Ladies Aid because I am not old enough.

“I would read the Bible more but there is so much to watch on TV.”

I will donate more once I get squared away with my one finances.

Procrastination may have a positive “You will alway have something to do tomorrow” but it can be devastating. You can wait to file your taxes until April 15ish, but do you really want to find out what happens if you are late especially with 87,000 new IRS agents scheduled to be hired?

Jesus uses a common example. If someone is invited to an event, if they are late and the door is shut, they are too late. Jesus expands on this with the parable of the Ten Virgins.

When is it too late? Well, once you are dead. But two things to consider.

You may be too hardened and stubborn when you are alive to change.

Thief on the cross. Which one?

You don’t know when you are going to die. “Who knows when death may overtake me.”

Seek the Lord while he may be found. Now is the hour of salvation.

Jesus then addresses a common fallacy still held by some today.

Many Jews believed that just because they had Jewish blood coursing through their veins, they were automatically included in those who were saved. And that it was hard for others. People today may rest on their family history or what they once did to reassure themselves they are saved . . . or to excuse their sloth. Jesus warns against such haphazard thinking. A casual acquaintance of Jesus is not enough. Salvation depends on being connected to Jesus.

Believe that our salvation depends on who Jesus is and what he has already done to save us.

Turn from our own futile attempts or poor reasoning and confess our sins to God and seek the forgiveness he has already promised us through Jesus.

Trust we are his forgiven children.

Live by the Spirit in thankful obedience and service which flows from having been saved.

Our motive in living godly lives and striving to do so comes from having been saved, not striving to be saved as though it depended on us in any way.

A true relationship with Jesus should not result in slothful complacency but in dedicated service. Is that not what St. Paul emphasized earlier? Colossians 1:28–29 (NIV)

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Jesus concludes with a warning and a promise.

He warns that those who think they are saved in any way other than through faith in him will be left out in the cold (or the heat as it were).

Those who trust in him will be included regardless of what their past has been.

Conclusion: It can be painful to realize that we are not included in the group or that we have been too late to enjoy an event especially when we realize it was our own fault.

It is of great reassurance that God includes us in the greatest of all events (SALVATION) and that he is the one who has prepared the way for us, invites us to be his children, and gives the Holy Spirit through the gospel so that we can receive it.

May we be determined to pursue the benefits of this salvation throughout our lives. Amen.