Topic: Strive To Enter [Monday August 21, 2017]
Text: Luke 13:23-25
Key Verse: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).
A story was told of a particular Christian family caught by communists after the Korean war and told to deny Christ or be buried alive. The father almost submitted to deny Christ, but the wife said, “No, today, we will eat dinner with our Christ”. She then raised a song – “In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore”.
The soldiers then started burying them alive one by one starting with the four children, their mother and finally their father. They died joyfully singing. They are now with Jesus up there. The good news is that almost all who watched the execution surrendered their lives to Christ. In our text, someone had asked Jesus a very crucial question: “are there few that be saved?” Jesus explained that once the door was shut by the Master, anybody trying to enter would not be allowed, stressing that “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.
He also hinted that many shall come from east, west, north, and south to join Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets in the Kingdom of God. He was however saddened and lamented over Jerusalem for killing and stoning the prophets sent to them by God and the desolation that awaited them for such sins. Getting to Heaven is the most important issue every believer must not gamble with.
The Lord, as a faithful Saviour and Teacher, does not leave anybody in doubt of the Christian’s responsibility to ensure he enters Heaven eventually. Yes, He has gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:1-3). Yes, it is His good pleasure to give us the Kingdom (Luke 12:32). Yet the Christian pilgrim must walk carefully, hopefully and prayerfully while he awaits the Bridegroom. Let us ensure at all times that we have enough oil of grace in our lamps.
Thought for the day: Preparing for Heaven must be our priority.
Bible Reading in one Year: Jeremiah 49-50
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
