Love Overcomes Daily Devotion #20 3/3/16

Day #20

Larry Trotter

Words of Love

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “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.

Luke 13:22-24 NIV

Overcoming the Barrier

Okay, let’s just take a moment and acknowledge that these three verses can be troubling and have sparked countless debates. More often than not the conversation winds up focused on heaven and hell and who’s in and who’s out. And, clearly, there is an eschatological (end times) edge to Jesus’ explanatory parable that comes just after the above verses. He speaks of a homeowner who locks the door and tells those trying to get in that it’s too late and they should go away. He goes on to say that others will be allowed in, but not everyone. Verse 24 suggests that it will take some effort to get through the narrow door and many won’t make it. If we put all this together and conclude that the door is salvation, understood simply as admission into heaven, then we have a problem. The balance of the New Testament, especially Paul’s writings, teach that salvation comes solely by God’s grace attained simply by our faith in Jesus. Our efforts have nothing to do with it. However, to allow that to be the only conclusion flattens out the passage and removes the mystery that gives it texture and depth. Remember, at this point Jesus is speaking primarily to his Jewish brothers and sisters. He is urging them to stop clinging to their forefathers’ faith they feel they have inherited through their Jewish heritage and claim their own faith in the kingdom Jesus is bringing into existence. As he has taught repeatedly, kingdom living looks different from the rest of the world and requires complete submission to the spirit of the Law, now fulfilled in Jesus, and compassionate concern for all people (think Samaritans, the poor, the demon-possessed, etc.) Moreover, the Law was born out of God’s love for his people and keeping the Law at the expense of people strikes against its very essence. Just before this encounter Jesus healed a chronically disabled woman in a synagogue and was criticized by the synagogue ruler for healing on the Sabbath.

With that fresh on his mind Jesus may be using the image of squeezing through a narrow door to underscore the nature of his coming kingdom, which isn’t about rules and privilege but is about grace and responsibility. We are not saved because we are special; we are saved because God wants to do something special with us for someone else, blessed to be a blessing as God told Abram. Sometimes that’s hard. Sometimes it’s lonely. Sometimes it leads to heartache. Sometimes it leads to a cross. It’s a narrow door, indeed. But that’s the nature of discipleship and it’s not for everyone, though everyone is invited. We can’t follow Jesus on our own terms because our humanity will usually overrule his divinity. We fail then we think that our parents’ or grandparents’ faith traditions or our good intentions are enough to get us through the door. But we overcome that failure when we accept his divinity and let that re-form our humanity (Wesley called it sanctification). Then, we find all kinds of doors opening for ministry that brings Jesus’ saving power to others and lodges it more deeply inside us. I believe in heaven and hell and I believe that no one will wind up in either place by accident or default. Faith in Jesus secures heaven for all who claim his gracious invitation. Faith in Jesus also secures our place on his kingdom-bringing team, which doesn’t include posers, spectators, or hangers-on. If we want to be with Jesus for all eternity it starts right here, right now. Wherever there is a need Jesus will be there and he wants us right by his side. Why would you want to put that off another minute?

Prayer

Saving God, I want to be a part of our saving work now. I will trust you with my place in heaven and take my place in your kingdom as you seek to bring a little heaven to earth. In Jesus’ name, amen.