Watching Our Walk With God

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THU Evening Prayer Reflection 110520 (Luke 13:18-30)

Unto what is the Kingdom of God like? Jesus was in front of people who had no clue to what is the Kingdom of God. If you were in another continent, and you were asked to describe your own country’s way of life, what would you say? This was Jesus’ way to describe his Kingdom in Heaven. He told them that they were mistaken if they though his Kingdom was like Kingdoms of this earth. It is not a Kingdom that appears great and belligerent but rather it is one that starts small like a grain of a mustard seed, and when all the conditions are right, the seed ends up growing into a fabulous tree. So, if people were thinking, can this man save us? They might just have to wait because the Kingdom of God starts small and then grows bigger. The same description also is used with how just a little yeast work wonders to leaven the bread and grow it bigger silently and without any force or violence. It really is not like the Trojan horse story in which, a force is sent inside to make violence but this Kingdom of heaven comes as an agent that silently and effortlessly brings transformation from the inside like a yeast. This agent is Christ words that change hearts through the power of God.

As I was contemplating this, I was reminded of people whose lives were transformed by the words of Jesus. Two years ago, on Fox News was this notorious gang leader being interviewed. Rene Martinez had spent the majority of his life in and out of jail, breaking into homes, stealing guns, dealing drugs, and getting into fights. He found a new calling preaching, praying, and baptizing others in the name of Jesus as he seeks to save them from the life, he once knew all too well. What can bring a change like that? Jesus talked about the visible effect of this Kingdom of heaven. This is it.

On his way to Jerusalem teaching, someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ Jesus replied: Strive to enter through the narrow gate because many will try and won’t be able to get through. I didn’t consider the motive behind the question but I found out it was a trap. If Jesus replied only a few will be saved, then he would be accused of being precise, if he had said many, then he would have been accused of being too loose and cheapening Salvation. Jesus directed the question rather to “what shall you do to be saved.”

Does it really matter for us to find out how many people will be saved? Shouldn’t we worry about whether we are in or not? Wouldn’t this be way more important? Jesus points out that there will be people who will try to get in and won’t be able to. This is a scary prospect which should be a serious motivation for everyone to seek to be in the narrow way that leads into the Kingdom of God. We should agonize about it, strive with all our hearts. Our seeking should be led by our utmost effort. This is not to say that anyone will be saved by the amount of works, but it is to say that we should be diligent in seeking God. We can’t afford to seek God half-heartedly.

All this discussion is leading to the day of the Lord. Jesus hints that some will not be able to enter. It seems our choice to follow Jesus now puts us on the trajectory towards the narrow gate. Jesus is directing us towards the narrow gate. We should not be complacent thinking it is a done deal. How is our walk with Christ? Are we still on a trajectory towards the narrow gate?

God be with you!

 

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