God’s Kingdom Explained – Part I
Key Verse: Luke 13:23-24
Someone ask Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail”.
Additional Reading: Luke 13:22-30
As Jesus was going through the different towns and villages, teaching the people what the Kingdom of God was like, someone asked a strange question. The person said to Jesus, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”. It’s possible that Jesus had taught a lesson in such a way that He wanted that question to be asked, which would provide another teaching moment that was needed. We have no reason why this question was asked, but Jesus didn’t ignore it.
However, it came about, Jesus was very honest in His answer: “…many will try to enter but will fail” (Luke 13:24b). Jesus goes on to tell this crowd the consequences for failing to enter the door to salvation: “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth…” (Luke 13:28a). This is not a pretty picture that Jesus is painting. But it does explain why He started His answer to the question of how many will be saved with: “work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom” (Luke 13:24).
I believe if everyone in this world could get one glimpse of the terrible consequences of not accepting Jesus and His redemptive work on the Cross, EVERYONE would give their all to be a part of God’s Kingdom.
Jesus knew that His mission on earth was to tell everyone the TRUTH about what eternity will be like.
These verses are hard to read, and it should break every believer’s heart to think that millions of people are rejecting Jesus. Jesus is saying that when the door of opportunity is closed, it will be closed forever (read Luke 13:25). And we read that those who are closed out will try to say they didn’t know about Jesus. However, Jesus will remind them that God sent His Prophets and His teachers, and they were rejected. God even sent His only Son to offer salvation to all people, and He was rejected by most as well.
The good news is that people from all over the world will be a part of the eternal Kingdom of God. From the east, west, north, and south they will come! (Luke 13:29). That Day that Jesus comes back for His followers will be a day worth working hard to be a part of!
Here is the all-important question: Are you working hard to be a part of the Kingdom of God?
The Apostle Paul said that after He had believed in Jesus for his salvation, he disciplined his body with great effort to be worthy to receive the eternal prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
We can’t work for or earn our salvation. But once we have accepted Jesus through our faith, we get busy doing all that we must to stay true to Him!
Father, help me to discipline my body. I ask in Jesus’s Name, amen.