The Narrow Door: Luke 13:22-28

The phrase "the straight and narrow" has become one of our cultural clichés. It carries connotations of people living as a goodie-two-shoes, avoiding pleasures, and striving to please authorities with outward decisions, be it God or man. But the truth behind this phrase is that it originates in a warning. A warning that Christ gave to the crowds as he traveled.

Someone looks into the face of the Savior, the only one who can rescue sinners, and asks "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" Maybe a mother worried over her children's afterlife. Or a young man, hoping he can slip into salvation through the guise of righteous, but knowing that that hope is unsound. Maybe, it was a Pharisee, hoping to contrast the law and Christ's promises in front of the crowd to make his own beliefs more inviting. Whoever it was, Christ plainly revealed the truth in his reply. He looked deep into the speaker's eyes, piercing into their very soul, and said "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you will seek to enter and will not be able to." He turns his gaze to the crowd, "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,' and he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all workers of evil.' 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.'"

Jesus' words were not for the weak hearted. What a terrifying picture he paints. He tells us that many will come up to our God, the one master of the universe in confidence and be rejected, like Esau is in Hebrews 12:15-17.

"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many come defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears."

Esau did not want God's blessing when he held it in his grasp. He traded something so precious for something so worthless, a meal. It makes me question my priorities, what do I value more than God? Where I am compromising my God for the things of this life? What do I desire more than God? Many times I have skimmed over these warnings, believing they were for non-Christians, but the truth is they are as relevant to me as they were to Esau. I may think I hold salvation securely, but if I forsake the cross for this life, what wrath I will incur. The truth is that God has great forgiveness for those that seek him. Sin is constant in this life, but sinning deliberately and strategically against God means we are running toward the hell we once sought to be delivered from. We stop seeking and loving God and start loving sin again. Hebrews warns of this just a few chapters before it talks about Esau.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who sets aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay.' And again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God."

We know God, we have sat at his table, we have studied his word, how much more wrath will we deserve if, at the very gates of heaven, we claim to have honored God in our deliberate sin? A baby who is punished for biting her brother receives a mild chastisement. But the teenager who strikes her little brother hard, and purposefully, deserves a greater punishment. Why? The teenager knew better than the baby. They understood the motivations and implications in a way a 13 month old cannot grasp. In the same way, how will our Father see us if we continue in sin when we know it leads to death. These passages don't mean that we cannot be saved if we turn from our sin. It does mean when God closes the door, when this life ends or he returns, we will be punished if we did not walk in his ways. Let us watch our lives and doctrine closely, shaking off sin and clinging to grace. I pray that I will always strive to enter through that narrow door.

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." Galatians 6:1

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

"Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. " 2 John 1:8-9