Definitive & Narrow

Commentary

A 2021 Barna poll of professing Christians in the United States showed that only 6% of those polled believed that the Bible is God’s Word. Biblical illiteracy among professing Christians is off the charts in Western nations. Couple that with the growing societal interest in witchcraft, mysticism, and new age, and we have a very bad spiritual situation on our hands. So many of those who are in support of odd theologies often claim that everyone is worshipping the same god, but in their own way.

However, if we look to the Bible, knowing that it is proven to be God’s Word, then we can plainly see that statements like that are untrue. The words above are recorded from Jesus’ sermon on the Mount of Olives. He does not mix words and is very direct in His teaching that there is only ONE Way, and that Way is exclusive. Jesus even used more specific language, which is recorded in John’s Gospel.

The exclusivity of trusting in Jesus is jarring for many, a result of people knowing very little about the True and Living God of the Bible. What this has led to is a world where many think they are going to Heaven, but are not, and that is heartbreaking.

We’ll dive into Scripture further to see what else God says about this topic, why the path is so difficult, and the gate so narrow — ultimately finding clarity on this matter.

Commentary

Yesterday we read that the path to eternal life is difficult and the gate is narrow, and only a few will find it. Today we read that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter Heaven. This can be very discouraging language to those who know very little about our God; even new or immature Christians can be caught off guard by these words. However, the Bible always interprets the Bible, meaning that we can find Scripture that will answer many of our questions. Sometimes that Scripture is in the same passage, other times in the same chapter or book, and sometimes it’s somewhere else in the Bible. The key is that the context must always match in order to be valid insights for the questions that arise.

In the case of the verse above, we read a qualifier for who will get into Heaven, those who do the will of God. This brings up a question, “What is the will of God?” To answer this question, we can go to John’s Gospel, to chapter 6.

It’s a simple and concise answer, anyone who places their trust in Jesus will pass through the narrow gate. We won’t be the ones who say “Lord, Lord”, but are unwelcome into Heaven. It’s really simple, childlike, believe and be saved. That belief is a complete faith or trust in Jesus that is directly from your heart.

Now I’m sure you also have a second question, what about those who are rejected? Why are they rejected if they are calling to Jesus? We’ll explore that tomorrow.

Commentary

The verse above is at the end of a parable that Jesus used to teach about Heaven. He used the analogy of a wedding of a prince, planned by his father, the king. What we learn through this parable is that the king sends his servants to summon those whom he has invited. What we find out is that those who were invited didn’t care.

Within the context of the chapter, it’s clear to see that the original group of people who were invited represents the Jewish people. However, it’s ultimately representative of anyone who is called by God but refuses His invitation. These are people who pay no real attention to the Lord and may go on the rest of their lives never coming to faith, never opening the door that Jesus has been knocking on for years or decades. They’re simply too busy being occupied by the things of this world, and Satan has snatched that seed of faith from their hearts.

Now for those who actually acknowledge Jesus, but are also not saved. These go through the motions of Christian-like religion, yet do not have a saving faith. They often live their lives outwardly very morally and may seem to be on fire for the Lord for a season of their life — but in their hearts, they have no true love for Jesus. These are the ones who will build their spiritual house on the sand, only for it to crash down on them when the storm hits, because their house was not truly built on the Rock. Jesus warns about this because there have been, are, and will be many who are in this spiritual condition. They are people who react positively to the Gospel but fall away as the tribulations of life hit or the pleasures of life consume them.

As the Holy Spirit taught through Paul,

Commentary

Yesterday we learned more about those who brush off the Gospel message and those who initially like what they hear, but fall away sometime after. The verses above are from that same wedding parable. After the king’s invite is rejected, he sends his servants to those outside the city (to the whole world) and invites them to his son’s wedding. Among them is a man who is not dressed for a wedding. He is another representation of those who on the outside appear Christian, but inside they have no heart for Jesus — they are not covered by the blood of the Lamb. These try and “sneak” their way into Heaven, but God will not allow it. They want to be free “to do as they please”, but also want the good things offered by God. Jesus also described such people in His parable of the wheat and the weeds.

The weeds, being these wicked of heart, who will blend into the Church (the wheat) until the end. They become poisonous to believers around them, slipping in false doctrines and theologies. These are the ones in churches who excuse many forms of sin and dismiss those sins as being good; people who live according to their own desires and not according to God’s desires. Jesus will allow both to grow together to prevent the uprooting of any wheat, but will sort His true followers out and separate them from the false converts in the end. Those who are the weeds will be sent into Hell.

These are all examples of types of people who will not be welcomed into Heaven, if they indeed die in that spiritual state. They won’t be welcomed, simply because they weren’t chosen by God. But why? Because of how they responded to the Gospel of Jesus, they were never going to truly and fully trust in Jesus; therefore, their hearts were hardened. Among them are many who even believe that they can live “their own truth” and somehow still make it into Heaven. But it’s not 10% Jesus, 50% Jesus, or even 99% Jesus; it takes 100% faith in Jesus to make it into Heaven.

Commentary

The gate is narrow because there is only one Way, Jesus. The requirement to enter into that narrow gate is to place your trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins. The road is difficult because one must walk in the opposite direction of this world, taking up their cross daily and following after Christ. Truly loving Jesus is a total-life commitment that infuses all areas of one’s life — work, home, school, and the like. The born-again follower of Jesus knows that and is willing to accept all repercussions from this world because of the love they have for their precious Savior — even if it means suffering worldly losses. If this is you, then praise God, my friend; you are a child of the Living God, and you will be entering into that narrow gate.

But those who can’t make it through that narrow gate simply never wanted Heaven enough to actually take the action required. The Gospel of Jesus is so simple, easy enough for anyone to understand, yet becomes a cosmic-sized barrier to so many because they just couldn’t set themselves aside and trust in the Savior; they want to do it their own way. The Bible teaches that no one truly seeks God, but that He, in His grace and mercy, calls out to us and touches our hearts. It’s our responsibility to respond back, either yes or no. Not responding is the same as saying no.

In the end, there will be a vast multitude of people in Heaven, but not an amount that even comes close to all the souls who have lived upon this Earth since the beginning. Make sure that your faith is in the Jesus of the Bible and pray for those you know.