Mercy that Doesn’t End, but Closes
Luke 13:22 ¶ He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
Luke 13:23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them,
Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13:25 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,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’
Luke 13:26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’
Luke 13:27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’
Luke 13:28 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.
Luke 13:29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
These spooky words of Jesus stand in direct opposition to the universalist teaching that God will let everyone into Heaven. There is no way around it. The disciples ask if the number of people that are saved will be few and Jesus gives them a hard answer.
You have to consider why they asked this. Jesus has been teaching along and they might feel discouraged. Kind of like when He told them not to get divorced and they answered “It’s better not to even get married then!”
Jesus really is the perfect man. He can balance that teaching on divorce and still love marriage. He can also open His arms wide for all who would call on His name, and at the same time shut the door on the last day.
The fact is that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Jesus taught that (the work of God is this: believe in the One He sent) and Paul taught that under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
But at some point, the wedding has to begin and the doors have to shut.
I live in a house with 9 people and one bathroom. Before every shower, somebody shouts “Does anyone need to go potty before I hit the shower?!” If we didn’t say that, some folks would be miserable. Especially the little kids.
But if we then didn’t get in the shower and went on with our day, we wouldn’t be honest, either.
The nice habit that we’ve formed is that you only say that once. If somebody doesn’t jump on it and go, they lose.
Jesus wants us to all jump on board. He wants us to come to Him right now as He calls for us. The fact that He’s letting us know and calling us early is mercy. Read the passage again from that perspective.
To know Him now, before the end of the world, is the second-best part of the whole deal. That’s the fullness of His compassion, perfectly fitting in with His justice.
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