Jump Start # 3107

Matthew 7:14 “For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”

Here is a thought: “How many do you think there will be in Heaven?” In our passage, Jesus says, “few.” We know in Revelation 7, the number who had washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb was so large that no one could count them. Thousands? Maybe a million? What about millions and millions?

Recently, I preached a lesson about abortion. I called it, “Joined to the living.” It’s on our website if you want to watch it. Since the 1973 Roe verse Wade decision, there has been 63 million abortions. The current rate is about one million abortions a year. Those aborted babies are discarded and forgotten. They are not buried in a cemetery with a headstone. No one visits the grave with flowers. Gone. Forgotten. Just like an appendix or gall bladder that you had taken out years and years ago. But Heaven hasn’t forgotten those souls. God uses the same Greek word to describe a baby inside the womb as well as a baby that has been born. No difference to God. The Bible doesn’t use the words fetus, embryo or tissue. God uses the word baby. The child has a soul. The child is a person. The baby has been aborted and destroyed. The baby never took a breath from our atmosphere. The baby never walked on this planet. The baby never saw the created world God made. Yet that soul, made by God, lives on in eternity. That precious soul of that aborted baby never sinned. That soul never wronged God. That soul never had to apologize. Pure. Sinless. Free from the pollution of Satan and our culture. And, now that the life has ended, the soul returns to God.

So, how many will be in Heaven? More than 63 million. Add to that number, the babies that Pharaoh killed. Add to that the babies that Herod killed. Add to that the number of righteous who have walked with Jesus. Add to that the faithful from Hebrews 11. Our number is increasing rapidly. Now imagine that massive wave of people bowing before the Lord and praising God with one voice. What a scene!

Now, some thoughts:

First, someone will ask, “how can an aborted baby” praise God when he is not developed and knows nothing?  How can a ninety year old Christian, who has dementia, and does not even know his family, honor God? We ask these questions from an earthly perspective. In the presence of God, our souls will not be limited by our earthly perspective. How this will be, I do not know. It’s not mine to know. There is a soul and it’s pure and Heaven bound. That’s all that we need to rejoice about.

Second, as ugly and horrendous as abortion is, it is filling Heaven. It’s putting souls in Heaven that may not have been there, had they been allowed to live and grow up. They might have continued the cycle of not knowing God as their environment and surroundings around them encouraged them. Then, is abortion a good thing? No. Never. It’s against the nature of God. It’s against God’s design and purpose. Killing the innocent is never good. But as our Lord said, “Do not fear the one who can kill the body and do no more.” A pregnancy can be stopped, but a soul will live on. Only God can deal with the soul.

What a perspective change for me. I have always thought that there would be many in Heaven, but when I started putting that 63 million number to it, what a powerful and wonderful crowd that will be. The 63 million represents just America and just since 1973. What about worldwide? What about before 1973?

Third, as we think about who will be in Heaven, there will be some who have a story. Paul would be like that. His journeys. His sufferings. His trials. The early disciples would all have stories. But there would be some who have little or even no story. Yet, together, in the presence of God who made each of us, we will honor, rejoice and forever be safe. No more will there be someone trying to kill us, stop us, harm us or persecute us. Evil can’t reach Heaven. Safe in the arms of Jesus, what a wonderful thought that will be.

Fourth, when we think about who will be in Heaven, I think we might be surprised at who is there. You and I can be judgmental at times. We may not give someone a chance. We may not have much grace for some. But God does. We may have decided that a certain person doesn’t belong in Heaven. But that’s not our right to decide. That is the exclusive prerogative of God. There might be some who are surprise that you and I are there. God is righteous, merciful and loving. Those that are in Heaven have been invited by God and have accepted His grace through faith.

One of our hymns states, “Won’t it be wonderful there…” Oh, it surely will be. Don’t you wish we were there now!

Roger

Jump Start # 286

Matthew 7:14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Today, we look at yet another of Jesus’ radical statements. This one comes from the sermon on the mount. Our verse is linked to the verse before where the Lord describes two ways, two gates, two crowds and two destinations. One is wide, easy and full of people. The other, narrow, difficult and few people. The broad way leads to destruction. The narrow road leads to life.

These simple verses are profound. Jesus is saying that most won’t make it. Most won’t find life. Most are headed for destruction. Most have taken the easy way in life. It is wide or broad. It isn’t difficult. There are many companions going this way. One can imagine someone saying, “they all can’t be wrong.” Jesus said otherwise.

We tend to crisscross these two paths. Many would like to travel through life on the wide and easy path that is crowded with people but end up at the narrow gate and slide into eternal life. Live like a sinner and die like a saint! That won’t work. That doesn’t happen in Jesus’ story. The wide open way has many people to associate with and to encourage you. They are oblivious to the fact that they are heading straight into disaster. The broad way allows one to take their eyes off the road. Life can be neglected when on the wide road.

The narrow path is different. It is tight and confining. I envision passing through “Fat man’s squeeze” at Tennessee’s Rock City. No one would run through that section. The rocks stick out so close that you have to turn side ways, watch your head and advance slowly. It demands a careful walk. Look out, look up, be careful are the thoughts on the narrow journey. Why do it? It’s hard. There are few on this path. It can be lonely and discouraging. Why put up with the effort that it demands? First, this is where Jesus wants us to be. This section of verses begins with Jesus saying, “Enter through the narrow gate…” That is where He wants us to be.

The other reason a person would put up with the narrow way is because of where it ends up—life. Life, not death. Life, not existence. Life, wonderful, wonderful, life. The impression is life eternal—Heaven. The path to Heaven takes effort, concentration and diligence. It can be done’ But one must be careful. One must know what they are doing. Most don’t want to go this way. That’s what Jesus said. He ought to know. How does that make you feel? Most of the people you see today, will not make it. Most don’t know it. Many do not care.

This leads us to two simple thoughts.

First, there is a need to tell others. They need to know the way of the Lord. It is His way not our way. It is narrow. Truth is like that. We understand that in spelling and in simple math. There is one answer that is right but dozens of ways to get the answer wrong. That’s the way truth is. People need to know. Follow Jesus is the answer. He leads through the narrow path. It’s not about just going to church on Sunday, it’s about which path of life am I on. It’s about following Jesus. Most won’t make it. That is something as you look at all the people in an office, a school or on the roadway. Most won’t make it. It’s really sad. Something ought to be done. Tell them is the answer.

We know what happens if they don’t follow Jesus and His way. He has told us. They are heading toward destruction. They are racing toward the cliff. What should we do? What would you want them to do if it was you? Show them. Teach them. Invite them. Not all will hear. That’s the parable of the sower. But there are those who will. You did.

A second thought here is about being narrow. That is a definite negative in religious circles. Being inclusive, accepting, tolerant and open, now that’s the theme of the month. But that doesn’t describe the way that Jesus wants you to be on. It’s the narrow path, the narrow gate that He wants us to be on. The narrow way is often called legalism—and those that say that don’t understand that word. It’s not. It’s following Jesus. The narrow way is called prejudice by some. It’s not. It’s following Jesus. He’s not prejudice. Even the religious community has accepted the broad and wide road as the best road to take in life. How sad.

Following Jesus can be lonely because there are not a lot of people who want to do that. Jesus is there. Righteous people are there. What else do you need?

Two roads, two gates, two crowds, and two destinations…but you get to make one choice. Go with the flow or go with Jesus? Do what your heart says or do what the Bible says? Do what worked for your parents or do what the Lord wants? It’s a choice and not to choose becomes a choice.

Follow Jesus.

Roger