You'll Be Surprised Who's In Heaven Series

This is the third sermon in a series of messages on Jesus’ vision of the last days. We are highlighting the Importance of Jesus’ Return during this series. There are 260 chapters in the New Testament, and Christ’s return is mentioned no less than 318 times. Statistically, one verse in twenty-five mentions Christ’s return. So even a cursory reading of the New Testament highlights the importance of Jesus’ return.

Jesus employs all kinds of images to communicate both the inevitability of His return but also the urgency of His return. Here’s a few… He refers to His return as a thief entering a home in the night. Jesus likens His Second Coming to lazy slaves who think their master is delayed. In another occasion He refers to virgins who aren’t prepared for honeymoon.

Today Jesus uses two other images…

1) a door that is closing quickly and finally;

2) A banquet where a bouncer refuses to allow certain people to enter while other enjoy themselves.

Both are pictures of the gospel that evoke urgency for those who listen to His voice. This morning we will encounter one of the most challenging teachings from Jesus for our day. In fact, for many people, Jesus’ teaching isn’t simply challenging, it is down right revolting.

He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:22-30)

Jesus uses two metaphors in our story today after He’s asked essentially, “How many people will be saved?” The first is a door and the second image is a table. Jesus response is totally against our culture’s thinking and Jesus offends many people. In fact, I have found that a lot of people inside the church question Jesus at this point as well. But before we deal with Jesus’ answer, let me set the scene for us.

The Bible is one big story. The Bible is a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Indeed, the Bible tells a story that makes sense of the smaller stories of each of our individual lives. The Bible is a single story. Even though there are two testaments, there is but one story. Here’s the Bible’s big story in four sentences…

1. God made the world.

2. The world itself was devastated because we turned away from Him.

3. God reentered the world to rescue us from sin and death.

4. And one day, God will remake the world – he’ll completely restore the world at the end.

Again, the Bible tells one story. It begins with an innocent garden and it ends in a glorious garden city. It’s important for you to know this to comprehend the Bible’s teaching – to make sense of it. We’re zooming into examine this one aspect of the end times and yet, I want you to keep in mind the 30,000 foot big picture. You’ll discover is that we are living between the first and second coming of Jesus. We are living between God’s reentry where He rescued us from sin and death and His complete restoration of the world in the coming days.

Personal Timeline vs. World’s Timeline: There are two timelines given inside the pages of Scripture. There’s your personal timeline and then the Bible offers you the world’s future timeline as well. The Bible gives details about your personal future – what happens both when you die as well as where you are after your death while the world awaits its end. In fact, the Bible teaches that everyone everywhere will spend eternity in one of two places: heaven or hell.