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As we continue our studies in Chapter 13 of Luke’s gospel, this week our attention is focused on verses 22-35. Please read them every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 13:25-30 (Message)
‘“Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’ “You’ll protest, ‘But we’ve known you all our lives!’ only to be interrupted with his abrupt, ‘Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don’t know the first thing about me.’ “That’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom. You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.’
I’m going to tell you a story that is absolutely true but it’s something I’m not proud of. God has changed me so much over the past few years but this story goes way, way back to when Cath and I were first married. She has always held a fascination for anything that is ‘emergency services’ related and had a tendency to want to follow ambulances, fire engines and police just so that she can see what’s going on. I remember times when I’ve been driving miles out of our way just so that Cath could see where a fire engine was going. Once we arrive at their destination, she would sit and watch what happens until my patience ran out and only then would we drive home. Things are definitely better now and we’ve not chased an ambulance for many years.
In the early years of our marriage, we lived in a small terraced house and there was always something gone on in the street. We could hear the neighbours arguing and would regularly see the police visiting one of the residents. On many occasions there would be fights in the middle of the road and police were called in order to break things up. One night, very late, we saw the blue lights flashing and realised that an ambulance was being driven to the street behind ours. Cath was keen to know what was happening and was prepared to go to look. I told her that if she walked out of the door, it would be locked behind her and she wouldn’t be allowed in until the morning. I really was terrible back then and sure enough, out she went and true to my word, the door was locked. Sometime later, she returned and tried to get back into the house. She was banging on the door and throwing stones at the window in an attempt to get my attention. I was more than aware of what was going on but I’d made the threat and couldn’t back down. She went into the house on the opposite side of the street and telephoned me. I told her the same thing on the phone – I wasn’t opening the door. Well, I eventually backed down and reluctantly let her in to the house.
I’m sure that after reading that, you’re thinking “what an awful bloke”. Yes, I was terrible and really don’t know how Cath has put up with me for 30 years. Jesus’ words here are just as hard to read. The open door of invitation for ALL is being shut. There will be no second chances. Once it’s closed, no amount of pleading or begging will make the slightest difference. That’s a tough message to hear and to accept. The God of all grace is shutting the door and declares that judgment is on the way. People who claim to ‘know God’ will be rejected and so the message is to ensure that we are genuine and sincere in our faith. No superficiality will be accepted.
Take a few moments right now to pray a prayer just like David in the Psalms. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”. Seek the Lord while He may be found.
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