A young man had bragged to his friends that he knew a famous actor, that they were friends, and that because of that they could go backstage following the show. However, when they tried to go backstage, the actor said he didn’t know him, and thus they were turned away backstage. The young man’s brief encounter a few years back when he had seen the actor on the street, called out his name, and the actor had turned to look his way, did not count as knowing the actor, did not constitute friendship with him. His bragging and his pride got him turned away at the door, with a “Sorry, I don’t know you.” In our Gospel passage for today we will read of another time, a much more important time, when we will not want to hear those words said to us.
As our Scripture from the Gospel of Luke opens, someone comes to Jesus and asks a question, whether a lot of people will be saved or not. The Savior’s response is not a simple yes there will be, or no, only a few. His response intended to make the person, and all who were listening, seriously consider whether they, personally, would be among those who were saved and would enter heaven. Actually Jesus had given an answer earlier, in the Sermon on the Mount, where He said that the way of true salvation is so narrow that few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). This contradicts the popular belief today that, except for possibly a few really notorious sinners, everyone is saved and goes to heaven.
There is a popular saying that there are many roads that lead to heaven. Again, this is something that the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, contradicts as wrong. As our Scripture here, and in other places state, there is only one way, one road, that will bring anyone to heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ. People may protest that it is being exclusive, and they don’t want to accept that. God is not being exclusive of anyone. He is very inclusive. Jesus offers salvation to everyone, and would never turn anyone away who puts their faith in Him (Romans 10:9-13). However, Jesus is the only door to heaven, and the only way to know the Father (John 10:7; John 14:6; Acts 4:12). It is not that God refuses people, it is rather that people refuse God, or at least God’s way. People try to enter in another way, other than through the Cross, however there is no other way.
Finding and entering the narrow gate is difficult because of pride, one’s natural love for sin, and the world’s opposition to the Bible’s truth (vs. 24). We cannot work to get saved. The only effort that we need to put forth to enter the narrow gate is to earnestly desire to know Jesus, believing that He died on the Cross for our sins. It is important that we should never put that decision off, for the door will not stay open forever!
On Judgment Day many will protest that they deserve entrance into heaven (vs. 25-27). However because no relationship ever existed between them and God’s Son, Jesus Christ, no entrance will be given. They had deluded themselves into thinking they knew the Owner of the house, that they knew the Savior, but there was no true relationship, thus no entrance.
Although many people know something about God, only a few have acknowledged their sins and accepted His forgiveness. Just listening to Jesus’ words and admiring His miracles is not enough. We must turn from sin and trust in God to save us.
Some people who are despised now will be greatly honored later when in heaven (vs. 30). In the same regard, some people who are influential and popular now will be left outside the gate come Judgment Day. The people great in God’s eyes are often ignored by the world, whereas many that the world honors will be turned away at heaven. There are some people we thought would be in heaven that won’t be there, and some people we were so sure wouldn’t be in heaven, but yet they are there.
In closing, we read of the cries of people, calling out for the Lord to open the door for them (vs. 25). This prayer could have been answered at any time before death. However, after death it is too late. It cannot be answered then. They were religious, but lost. There will be many who make a claim of being Christian, but never truly accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. The answer will be “Sorry, I never knew you. Depart from Me forever more.” What about you? Are you going to be among the saved?
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