The Closed Door ~ Which side are you on?
Fact: There is only one way to enter the kingdom of God…it is through the narrow door of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:8-11)
What did Jesus say to the question, ‘Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?’
(NIV) Luke 13:24-30 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once 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.
29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.’”
From what Jesus said, there will come a time when the door to the kingdom of God will be shut and it will be closed to all who have not received Jesus as their Savior and Master. No matter how loudly or how long they knock at that closed door…it will not be opened to them.
If the door were closed today…on which side would you be standing?
Why would anyone not be invited into the kingdom of God? Doesn’t He love everyone?
I believe the answer is He does love everybody…that is why He sent His Son to die on the cross…such love was expressed through a costly action on the part of Jesus.
However, if a person does not believe that Jesus is their Savior & Redeemer that person has rejected, ignored, refused God’s costly gift of love. That person has not yielded, acquiesced or submitted to God’s way…the door is narrow to enter into God’s presence.
When you receive Jesus by faith in what He has done for you, God is then your Father, Jesus is your Savior/Redeemer and the Holy Spirit is given to live within you. (This is a mystery, but also it is God at work!)
If you are on the inside of that door where the Lord God is…you will be on the same side of that door with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets of God – what a great company in which to be included!
But if you are on the outside of that door, Jesus said: “‘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.”
The Closed Door ~ Which side will you be on?