Luke 13:22-30

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v24) “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
  • The way that leads to heaven is narrow - the door we must enter is hard to find
  • In fact, Jesus tells us that many will seek to enter it (seek for happiness/eternal joy) 
  • However, many will not be able enter


v27) But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’
  • Many of us may claim to be Christians yet live our lives serving ourselves
  • We may come to Christ on judgement day trying to account for our lives with the works and accolades we've achieved but God only looks at the heart

v28) In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth
  • A vivid image of what hell would be like - the eternal suffering and pain of an existence without God
  • It brings shock and horror that those who do not truly believe and see Christ will experience this for an eternity

v29) And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.
  • However for those who are in Christ, there will be a feast
  • A feast of infinite proportion, where the people in Christ's family will dwell from all nations
  • This feast will be amazing and will be like nothing I've experienced or can hope to experience on this earth
v30) And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
  • Just because we suffer for Christ now on this earth, doesn't mean we will suffer forever
  • Indeed - if we continue to suffer like Christ did, for his name then we will be first in heaven beside Jesus
  • However, if we choose to live our own way, according to our own will, then we will be last and suffer the wrath of eternal judgement
Application:
  1. Continue to strive to find that narrow road/door
  2. Remember works/serving isn't for yourself or to prove to yourself - it should be a natural response out of the love for the God whom I serve
  3. Persevere through tough and difficult fleshly desires that may seem foolish to the world - for one day there will be a glorious feast where all the suffering will be replaced with eternal praise and worship to Christ

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