In some of our previous messages I shared from:
1) Luke 13:31-35 where Jesus weeps for Jerusalem. The Pharisees have a pretense of caring for Jesus by warning Him of Herod's plans to kill Him, all while they themselves desire to do just that. We also talked about the animal imagery used in the passage. Herod was the rascally, scheming fox while the chosen children of Israel were little chicks that won't come to God for help or protection...
2) Then last week we examined Luke 13:1-5 where Jesus tells His listeners, Repent or Perish! Quite an "in your face" statement from the Messiah. No mixing words with that one! And yet how often are we afraid to tell the truth to people about God's kingdom and address the way people live here?
Repent! Get things right with God! Or you will Perish!
Between these two bookend passages found in Luke 13 are three other stories. One is a healing, one a parable, and one an analogy - an attempt to bring a concept into our understanding by the use of known ideas and concepts. And this is the one we shall examine this morning....
Luke 13:22-30 The Narrow Door (read)
In the classic Book Pilgrim's Progress, there are two stories for the reader to enjoy.
The first is about a Pilgrim whose name is Christian. It tells of Christian's journey toward heaven and the many perils that nearly sidetrack him from making it home. It is an exciting read and helps the reader understand their walk and their trials in this life!
The second part is about his family's trials. At first they did not believe Christian's story and did not join Him on his walk to the Eternal City. But later, they saw the truth in him and longed to join him, when they decided to follow along behind - fac
ing menacing trials of their own.
In one particular chapter, Christian is having a very difficult struggle getting to where he needed to go. Some others join him, seeming to come out of nowhere, and they encourage him to "come along with us!" As you might image, but I doubt as masterfully as John Bunyan portrays it, they come to a place where only those who have entered by the gate may continue!
Imagine striving through all of life only to be turned away at the Narro Door!!!
Through this Lenten season, I've been encouraging you to join me as we walk toward Jesus' death on the cross... I've been encouraging you to fast and pray, to live a life of self-examination and self-denial - a life of repentance!
Repentance is certainly about repenting for our sins, the sins of our families, the sins of our community, the sins of our nation, the sins of our world!
But repentance is so much more!!! Repentance is being sorrowful for the things that we did not do, for the TV programs that ate up our time and took our focus OFF God. For the idle chatter that discouraded rather then the healthy talk that could have encouraged. For the personal pride that created the anger that pushed someone we loved - away. It could be that none of these were sin, they simply didn't reflect Christ in our lives...
In light of the Pilgrims Progress story, we neither helped someone on their journey nor helped ourselves towards Heaven. And isn't that a sad thought for a Believer to realize? Isn't that a sad thought for us as we approach God on Judgment Day? That today, we neither encouraged anyone nor moved forward ourselves! And doesn't that alone demand repentance?
*A Saint from the 1500's wrote this, "Show me a single person who does not believe in the Lord's law of self-denial - who can willingly practice a life of virtue!" In other words, without self-denial, there is no "picking up your cross daily" and following Jesus! No self-denial, no joining Jesus in His suffering. No self-denial, no living in the spirit! Really! Even though we may desire to walk with Christ, our own pride, our own greed, our own desires win the battle and we walk in our own nature and in our own strength!
If you have not already joined in, we still have a few weeks left before Easter.
One person's repentance, one person's self-denial, one person's decision to walk closer to God, to walk in the Spirit, to be filled with His Presence, to spend time in His word, to "wait upon the Lord", to enter their closet of prayer - just one person's decision to do this, strengthens the Whole Body of Christ!!! You are that important to God!
In today's passage, vs 23-24, a hearer, a person in the crowd asks Jesus:
23 ... "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.
I want you to understand that Jesus is walking within the Jewish community and is often surrounded by the elite religious leaders. He is walking among the "chosen" people of God! While we don't know what prompted the question, we do know from historical writings that the Jews believed many would be born into this present world but ONLY the Jews, the chosen, would be in the Coming Kingdom!
Some older translations say, "strive to enter through the strait gate."
We'll get back to the gate shortly.... for now, let's simply focus on vs 23. We don't know who is asking the question or what triggered the question... but consider this thought:
There are two types of questions people tend to ask:
1) a general and speculative question where the answer does not seem to matter, or
2) a personal and practical question where the person deeply desires a response.
Isn't it interesting that the question asked, in vs 23 is: "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
It's a general question, a speculative one. If the person asking was truly genuine in wanting a response, wouldn't he have asked, "Lord, what must I do to be saved?" But this would-be seeker doesn't really want to know HOW to be saved, just IF only a few WOULD be saved!
The question itself begs another question of us!
When you approach the Lord with your own question, is it a general question or a personal question? Do YOU desire a deeper, probing answer that may challenge your very thinking Or are you just playing games with God? Perhaps this person already knows what Jesus will say? So he asks in a less probing way! Jesus was known for His deep answers that cut to the heart of the matter! And maybe that's why many Christians stay:
- so far from the cross and
- so far from the alter and
- so far from ministry and
- so far from self-denial, and
- so far from God?
God might want us to
- stop some activity that dishonors Him;
- stop some speech that will ruin our witness;
- stop some attitude that shows WE are lord of our lives;
- stop some gossip that slays our coworkers or neighbors or family member who spoke truth to us!
Let me ask you,
- Should we expect Jesus to give us an answer when we ask a general question?
- Should we really expect an answer? If so, why?
Why should Jesus give an answer that does not meet anyone's personal or practical needs?
Only personal and practical questions need answers! And so the very opening question is incorrect! Instead, the question should have been:
- Jesus, what must I do to be saved? Now that demands an answer!
- Jesus, how can I live in this world of sin AND still make it to Heaven?
- Jesus, how can I live up to God's laws of love when my neighbor hates me?
- Jesus, how do I NOT cheat the government when they steal from me?
Personal and practical questions about how to be saved and how to live life and how make it through the Narrow Door! Questions that demand answers from the only source able to provide the answer! Jesus! An answer that deals with the dilemma of human sickness and misery and offers heavenly and eternal hope. That's what we need!!!
And even though this bystander doesn't deserve an answer, Jesus provides one. So let's begin to dissect this passage a little more....
Picture, if you will a fortress on a hill. The only way to get to this fortress is to work your way up the hill, zig-zagging back and forth, toward the castle gate or its doorway entrance. It is a narrow road that winds up the hill. The intend of the coming traveler is known in advance by the servants of the Lord, who watches to see if there are any hostile intentions.
In the ancient world, a city on a hill, high above the surrounding area and well fortified offered a strong vantage point to the King. There is no surprise attack from an advancing army for they are seen a long way off! And there were many such cities back then.
It might just be the setting that is behind Jesus, acting as a backdrop to this very story!
The people knew about war and about cities on a hill and about the need for a narrow gate and an approaching narrow road for protection.
Jesus likens such to the entrance to Heaven!
We are also warned to try strive to get through this gate! And though many will try, verse 24 makes it plain, many will not get through... but for now, let me continue with our opening question: 23 ... "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
Did Jesus say, "... only a few people {are} going to be saved?"
No! "Someone" did - but it was not Jesus! Jesus did say, in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that who ever believes..." Clearly, Heaven is open to all who will Believe....
What then is the issue that Jesus and this "Someone" (in vs 23) are discussing?
We already have one part of the equation that Jesus is trying to open our eyes to!
The Jews were the "chosen" people. Of this there is no doubt. God chose them and they are His people. And while they are chosen and loved, and God's first called, they have abandoned God's love. They reject God's plan for themselves. They chased after their own heart's desires and walked away from God! If the Jews (God's chosen) could reject God, can't you and I??? It's not God's desire - but it is our choice! Jesus says of His Jewish kin:
vs 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ... How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!
Could it be that we have fashioned a god in our own image?
Could it be that we really don't serve God, we only use Him to gratify and justify our own desires and our own preferences?
I know this sounds callous! But isn't it better to me to ask NOW then to have the Lord, from the other side of the door, say "I never knew you!"
People seek after money and strive after power! But who strives after God? Who denies themselves so God might reign in their lives - no matter what?
Illus: An elderly lady at a local elderly apartment complex is getting ready to leave this world for the life to come - she knows time is short. I visited several others in the complex only to discover a hidden anger behind the friendly smile. God gave me some insight into her problem so I was not surprised or blinded by what she and others said. This elderly lady, now near death, has pushed her whole family and all her relatives away so she no longer has anyone. She now wants the church to do what her family will not do - because of her own anger and her own unforgiveness.
What do you suggest I do???
Do I tell her everything is okay and let her continue to sow seeds of anger and resentment?
Do I allow her to continue to hurt others? All while fooling herself that this is ok with God?
The Israelites wanted Jesus to say, keep doing whatever you are doing and God will accept it. But God will not accept my plans and my attitude as acceptable when they are clearly against His Word! It doesn't work that way! But the Jews failed to see it!
And so, I instructed this elderly lady that her offenses against her family, her children, and her neighbors are not acceptable to God - Who calls each of us to love our enemies! As it is, she needs to seek their forgiveness and make things right! She needs to apologize for her selfish pride that allowed her to step on her own children and use her own neighbors and push everyone away!!! But first, you must seek God's forgiveness!
I said to her, the Narrow Gate is just down the road. You, dear sister, are nearing that gate. Do now what the Lord of the city requires! Do now what the Lord of lords demands! Make right all the things you can before you reach the Narrow Door!!!
Today she is happy. She has called estranged relatives and people she has wronged. She's asked for forgiveness and she has written letters of love. But she wishes she would have done this a long time ago.
Her former attitude was that of the "Someone" in vs 23! She thought everything was okay. But she asked general and speculative questions of God. She lived a generally Christian life and not a personal Christian life! And her general Christian life kept God, Jesus, family, friends, and neighbors at a distance. She lived a life based on herself and not on God. Had she knocked on the Narrow Door a few weeks ago - I don't know - nor is it my call!!! But I do know she was concerned enough about her own walk to take immediate action and now she glows with God's love!
Today her focus is on pleasing God and loving others - one person at a time!
But what about you - Oh Christian?
Are you a "general" Christian? Asking general questions and living a general Christian life? And if you were to approach, to see that Narrow Door before you this morning, would it open to you? Would the Lord of the City say, "Enter in my faithful servant! Enter into the Joy of your Lord?"
Often God provides physical truths for us to draw upon to help us see spiritual truths. Pilgrim's Progress helps in making many such connections.
When I apply this general question to my life I find:
My wife doesn't want a "general" husband someone who generally fits the bill and walks through life and nor do I want a "general" wife.
When I was dating my beauty, I didn't want to "generally" court her! I didn't want to "generally" fall in love with her!
I wanted (and still want) a personal wife and she wants (and still wants) a personal husband!
God wants a personal YOU! No doubt about it!!!
The question for you is: Do YOU want a personal Lord?
* Devotional Classics, P. 138, John Calvin, Foster & Smith,HarperOne
Suggestions: Since I like to "set the stage", I used three lead in "YouTube" video downloads: "This is the Air I Breath", "The God of te Mountain is the God of the Valley", and "Moses, Take your Shoes Off!" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwiaRQ45A58 )
I opened in my socks (shoes visibly off) and stated "We are on Holy Ground!" I then Briefly walked through several OT prophets to show God is a personal God and He is personal today!"
A great message to have fun with and call people to a deeper walk with God
You may contact me at: adamsmd@qWestinternet.net with questions
