“Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked 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. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets. And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’ (Luke 13:22-27 NLT)
Have you ever been running through the airport like the family on the Home Alone movie? You were late leaving and getting to your gate on time was a challenge. It felt like a crisis, and you started criticizing “somebody” who made you late. Now, don’t look back and start thinking whose fault it was, just be glad that you made it! Rejoice that you did not miss your flight and there was still room for you on the plane. Perhaps you were the last one to board before the door was shut but be grateful that you made it! When you went inside, you noticed that others were already on the plane, looking comfortable and peaceful. So, what! In such cases, you should still, be glad because you made it!
This is one of those meditations to get you involved in evangelizing and fertilizing in places where seed has already been planted. I want you to send this to someone who has come to church, enjoyed the fellowship among the saints, but never came to Christ by faith; never accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. Yes, send this to someone who needs to know that one day it will be too late to repent and come through the narrow door; too late to get on board; too late to be in the position, in Christ, a position where one can easily come through the narrow gate. We all have some “somebodies” in our lives that do not know the Lord! So I have no doubt that somebody that you know needs to know that they can’t get through the gate with all their baggage, stuff that is blocking their submission to the Lord!
Send this brief meditation to somebody! And in the subject line type, “On A Need To Know Basis.” Perhaps you will alter someone’s plans, change someone’s eternal destination. Possibly, there’s hope, someone will get rid of the baggage that is preventing them from getting in. Look! It’s not too late for you to be obedient to the Great Commission which charged us with the task of making disciples, but it can be too late for somebody you know if they are not helped to get to the Somebody who saves! The songwriter is accurate, “Jesus saves!” That should evoke a sense of urgency!
And listen, maybe you will need to be bold and add a P.S. at the end of your forwarded email that says, “The flight to God’s celestial shores will depart on time! Be ready when Jesus comes!” Get busy and bear some fruit!” Have a great Friday! Be blessed!
“Then he told them a story: “A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren’t any. He said to his gardener, ‘What’s going on here? For three years now I’ve come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?’ “The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn’t, then chop it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9 MSG)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King