Do this the easy way or the hard way?

March 16, 2022 (Wednesday)

 

In my training, it was drilled into me that the church must be as easy access as possible. After all, it is God’s will for the church to grow. I’m not going to dispute that claim. However, there are times I run across puzzling (contradicting) pieces in the Bible.

 

I’ve notice, Jesus did not make it easy to follow Him. In fact, there are times where He openly discouraged people from following (example John 6:66). What is happening? One of the questions Jesus fielded fits the puzzle. “Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” [Luke 13:22a NIV]

 

Other than Jesus traveling and teaching, we do not know what inspired this question. It must have been the impression He was giving people. Jesus begins with, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” [Luke 13:23 NIV] It sounds like there will be people who will try to enter the kingdom of God (by implication, salvation/Heaven) and will fail.

 

Before this Jesus has told two parables. The first is about the mustard seed that grew so large the birds made nests in it. I take two lessons from this parable. First, the growth of the kingdom of God will be impressive and expansive. Second, it becomes a home to demonic agents (the birds). The second parable is about yeast. It works its way through the entire flour. Yeast, in the Bible, is always an image of sin and corruption.

 

This would explain the question, are only a dew going to be saved.  Jesus noted that entry is through a narrow door. Such a door would be hard to find and hard to get through. Jesus continues, “Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you are from.’” [Luke 13:25 CEB] My understanding is that there will be a specific time when the entry to the kingdom of God (salvation) will be closed.

 

Reading further, this teaching seems to be aimed at the Jewish people (see Luke 13:28 – 29). However, commenting on this Paul recognizes, “But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.” [2 Corinthians 3:14 ESV] However, Paul continues by explaining this applies to everyone, not just Jews. “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” [2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV]

 

Let’s see how Matthew recorded Jesus’ teaching, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” [Matthew 7:13 – 14 ESV] Jesus is saying, the highway to Hell is an easy one. Most of us will take the path of least resistance. The path to Heaven is hard.

 

When faced with the choice between easy and hard, most will take the easy. Let’s consider for a moment the outcome. If you really want something, you will work for it… even if it is costly. My question today is; what are you willing to invest in the eternal destiny of your soul?