Heaven Bound?

Author : Saundra L. Washington
"Follow me" – Luke 9:59.
"Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:60.
"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:62.
"Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves."- Luke 10:3.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself." - Luke 10:27.
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters." – Luke 11:23.
"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." – Luke 11:28.
"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." – Luke 12:40.The above biblical quotations are only a small sample of words spoken by our Lord Jesus on discipleship. He does not bite His tongue and sharply instructs us on the cost of discipleship. No wonder someone asked Him, "Will only a few be saved?" Of course, in the context in which it was here asked, we can reasonably infer that it was a smug rhetorical question from one of those in the audience with whom our Lord experienced the most difficulty. They were the religious folks who thought they had fulfilled God's expectations and therefore were better than others; they thought they were among God's elect and the very few whom God favored. They abided by certain strict codes and believed in a certain set of doctrines. In their way of thinking, only a few moral people with "correct" beliefs would be saved – the few who believed and behaved as they did. No doubt, they expected to hear Jesus confirm what they already knew. If Jesus answers as expected, then these folks have the satisfaction of truly knowing that they are right and snub their nose at all the rest.What is of vital importance is Jesus' response. Isn't it interesting to note that Jesus does not choose to dignify the question with an answer? The implication seems to suggest the question is unimportant. Indeed, it is unimportant and irrelevant. Why should we be concerned with whether many or few are saved? Jesus does not deal with the question because it is extraneous. So He counters the question with an admonition: "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." What Jesus makes clear is that the danger is not that only a few will find salvation; the danger is that those who could be saved will not seize the opportunity when they have the chance because the door to salvation will not remain open always. Time is running out. Therefore, it is imperative that we make every effort to enter through the narrow door leading to salvation.But you know the problem don't you? Too many of us are too preoccupied with whether only a few will be saved and like Jesus' inquirer, so confident that we are among the few, that we may miss the opportunity to go through the door because we have stopped applying effort.I am not sure what it is about us that makes us want to diminish God's requirements but let me assure you it is not an easy task trying to get to heaven. Heaven is a place that will not be gained easily. It demands great pains and difficulty and diligence. We must wrestle with God in prayer, fight the good fight of faith against sin and Satan, strive in every Christian responsibility and struggle with our own hearts and sinful nature. We are constantly toiling and exerting ourselves for salvation does not mean arriving at a secure station. We can never get to the point where we feel we have arrived because salvation is a journey, it is growth, it is struggle, it is straining every nerve everyday to respond faithfully to Him who stands at the open door and beckons for us to come.The issue is not who is saved or who is not; the issue is not whether many or only a few will be saved. The issue is: are YOU heaven bound.You have an open invitation to visit us at AMEN Ministries: Your Soul's Service Station for reviewing spiritual services being offered, obtain spiritual refreshing and soul edification, get your daily dose of humor, browse our newly expanded Stop & Shop WebStore and to visit our prayer sanctum for quiet time with God.Blessings to all!Saundra
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