Walk Through the Door to Heaven – August 23, 2022

[Jesus] said to them “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”
Luke 13:24

Walk Through the Door to Heaven

Maybe you heard that all you have to do is “believe in Jesus,” and you will be saved. And so maybe you thought that the Christian faith is easy. Just believe, and that’s it. But when Jesus describes salvation, he says, “Make every effort” and “enter through the narrow door.”

So, what is this door? And why does it take so much effort to enter through it?

First, you’ll notice that Jesus is describing a singular door. There are not many doors to heaven. There is one. Jesus said that he is that one and only door. “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7). Every other religion doesn’t offer a doorway but a mountain of religious rituals and rules to gain their god’s favor. But because of the work of Jesus, the doorway to heaven has been swung wide open for all.

But why does Jesus describe this door as “narrow” and that many will not enter it? What does that mean? The doorway to heaven is narrow because no one who is puffed up with pride can squeeze through. Before we enter this doorway, we must recognize our great need as we go through the process of repentance. As we trust in Christ, our self-righteousness is deflated, and we can fit through that narrow door.

Getting to heaven is hard. In fact, on our own it is impossible. By nature, we reject our need to be rescued. But the Holy Spirit makes our unwilling hearts willing to receive Jesus.

Therefore, by the Spirit’s power, enter through this narrow door. Shed your pride and self-righteousness. Cling to Christ in faith and walk through the door to heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you for all that you have done throughout history to open a way for all to be saved. Now, continue to work a miracle in my heart. Lead me to believe and trust in you, so that I might always be confident in my salvation. Amen.