"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." {Verse 24}
In general, I think society thinks heaven has it's gates wide open to most people who are not bad people... and what even in this day and age constitutes as "bad people"? Sure, there are obvious attributes to getting this reputation- like the people who go walking through a school, mall or movie theater with a gun shooting and killing innocent people. Anyone I think, believer or not, would say, they're definitely in the "bad people" category. But what is Jesus' definition of "bad people"? Jesus often uses the term "workers of evil" or "evil ones" rather than "bad people". In fact, in this chapter, we see in his example of the narrow door, that there were people that came to Jesus saying, "We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets," yet Jesus says, "I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!" In Matthew 7, there were people who prophesied in Jesus' name, drove out demons in His power, and performed miracles in His authority, but again, Jesus, concerning their salvation said to them, "Away from me you workers of lawlessness!"
If we take even just these two references to evildoers in the New Testament and compare them with the many people in America today who believe they're going to heaven, does it change our perspective on who the saved are? Jesus said narrow is the door that leads to eternal life and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). If Jesus says that only a few find it, are you among the few? If you think that you are, how do you know? Let me assure you that just because you keep a seat warm at your church, go to the small groups, pray, listen to Christian radio- even lead in ministry, does not guarantee your salvation. Many people believe they are saved and will go to heaven- but that is not so. Even the people who performed miracles, cast out demons and prophesied in Jesus' name were not among the few. Does this concern you? Is the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart? Have any questions? Email me; or better yet- ask God. My prayer is that you are among the few chosen ones, and if you are not, I pray that your eyes would be open and your heart would receive the Good News that brings salvation. {Read more about this}
~Leanne~
If we take even just these two references to evildoers in the New Testament and compare them with the many people in America today who believe they're going to heaven, does it change our perspective on who the saved are? Jesus said narrow is the door that leads to eternal life and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). If Jesus says that only a few find it, are you among the few? If you think that you are, how do you know? Let me assure you that just because you keep a seat warm at your church, go to the small groups, pray, listen to Christian radio- even lead in ministry, does not guarantee your salvation. Many people believe they are saved and will go to heaven- but that is not so. Even the people who performed miracles, cast out demons and prophesied in Jesus' name were not among the few. Does this concern you? Is the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart? Have any questions? Email me; or better yet- ask God. My prayer is that you are among the few chosen ones, and if you are not, I pray that your eyes would be open and your heart would receive the Good News that brings salvation. {Read more about this}
~Leanne~
RSS Feed
