Lord Are We Entering by The Narrow Door?

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As I Prepared this sermon, My research took me to wondering where my journey really began. I was Created in the womb of a single Mom, and to be honest, I have no memory of my first 8 years of life.

Oh I have fleeting snip its of this and that, but nothing solid. So it a mystery for me to ponder. The first 40 plus years, I Just was, trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. I always believed there was a God, and usually when in dire straights, acknowledged him while seeking assistance. But then 30 years ago, is when My Patient Creator, flipped my switch, and my Journey Began.

Now let me say, it wasn’t an over night trip, it’s been 30 years of learning and to be honest, it confused the heck out of me. So here I am 75 years old, still unaware of why He Created me. So today I reached 1600 plus days of Daily Devotions, 298 special prayers, A Year of Standing here on this Pulpit, and today, I bring my answer. LUKE 13:22-30

Luke 13:22-30 records a conversation between Jesus and some of his followers, about who will be saved, how they enter the Kingdom, and the importance of entering by a special door.

The Meaning of the conversation is to emphasize the urgency we need to have in seeking our salvation, and entering into God’s Kingdom.

Jesus instructs his followers to make every effort to enter through that narrow door, as there will come a time when it will be too late, the door will be closed.

It is a firm reminder for us also, that our salvation should not be taken Lightly, and we must reach the decision to pursue salvation always, and immediately, before the door closed.

In this passage of Luke, Jesus addresses the profound question many of us wrestle with, “Lord, will only a few be Saved.” But  More, “ Lord who will be saved.”

It offers a valuable view into true Salvation, the very exclusivity of God’s Kingdom and the urgency and importance of working toward  that entrance.

Previously, Jesus had been teaching his followers about the importance of Repentance, and warning them not to be complacent in their Spirituality.

As we know Jesus used parables to get his point across in a manor people can understand. So here he makes the entrance to Gods Kingdom, like a Narrow Door, and putting great emphasis on the difficulty of the challenge of this journey, a journey to eternal Life with God.

As he did previously, by parables like Healing the Woman on the Sabbath, and the Mustard Seed Parable , Jesus is showing the transformative Power of God’s Kingdom, and as he responds to the Question of How Many will be saved, he prompts us to consider our own commitment to him.

When Jesus says “Strive to Enter through the Narrow Door, he is emphasizing that very urgency of seeking our salvation and the exclusivity of this path we must take. This is not about a path of works, but rather a whole hearted dedication and Faith. The narrow door signifies that Salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ himself, (John 14:6)  “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

In verses 25-27 of Luke, Jesus relates a scene, where some who thought they were saved, will be lock out of the Kingdom. These folks thought by mere association, they were in, but Jesus is saying mere association isn’t good enough, a Personal Relationship is what he needs. A good friend once said, people will be surprised who never made it to the Kingdom of God.

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus warns, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Furthermore, Jesus mentions that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This signifies the deep regret and anguish of those who miss out on salvation. It’s a somber reminder of the consequences of rejecting God’s invitation.

The passage concludes with Jesus stating that people from the east and west, north and south will come and recline at the table in the kingdom of God, while some who thought they would be first will be last.

This echoes the idea that salvation is not limited to a particular group but is available to all who believe, as expressed in Revelation 7:9, “After this, I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
 

Ultimately, Luke 13:22-30 reminds us of that exclusivity of the
narrow door, the importance of personal faith in Christ, and the urgency of seeking salvation. It challenges us to examine our hearts and ensure that we are not just onlookers but active participants in God’s kingdom.  

Let us strive to enter through the narrow door with unwavering faith, knowing that salvation is a gift offered to all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who Patiently waits on our decision.

The main lesson from this passage is the urgency of seeking salvation and entering into God’s kingdom. We are reminded that there is a deadline for making this decision, and we should not procrastinate or assume that we have plenty of time. Salvation requires active pursuit, sincere faith, and a willingness to align our lives with Jesus’ teachings.

This passage also emphasizes that salvation is not based on external factors such as family background, religious heritage, or social status. It is a personal decision and commitment to follow Jesus, regardless of our past or present circumstances. We must not rely on our own merits or achievements, but rather on the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. A Personal Decision, Christ waits for us to make.

Luke 13:22-30 serves as a wake-up call for all believers to take their salvation seriously. It reminds us that it is not enough to simply admire Jesus or witness his miracles. We must actively strive to enter through the narrow door and make Jesus the Lord of our lives.

Let this passage inspire us to examine our priorities, to evaluate our level of commitment to following Jesus, and to seek a deeper and more intimate relationship with him. May we strive to enter through the narrow door, knowing that our faithfulness will be rewarded with eternal fellowship with God in his kingdom.

Folks, we must reflect on Jesus words from Matthew 24:3-14, where Jesus tells us where we stand today. The signs are clear.

Matthew 24:3-14:

"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Stand firm folks, firm in our Love and Trust in Our lord and Saviour. Strengthen our Faith, and Commit to a better dedicated life following Jesus, as time grows short, and the time for the Door to close is near.

Jesus words then are still instructing us today to be vigilant and not be deceived by false messiahs and prophets who would claim to be Him.

We don’t need to know why he created us, and what purpose we will be, we only need to know He has a Plan, and decide that we want to participate in that plan, with our whole Hearts. We want to enter by that Narrow Door.

Amen.

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Watch this sermon presented live here: https://youtu.be/xaq6zz3libg