Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good evening, dear people.

It was early before—now it’s late. Time is definitely not static. A lot has gone on since early—including the purchase of a 2007 Honda Accord. There’s some work to be done on it—a bit of superficial damage. But with only 49k miles on it, a lot of miles are left.

I put the little kittens just outside this window so I can keep an eye on them. They’re having fun just goofing off and exploring on and under a pallet. When they get close to mommy Taffy, she gives them a lick down. Hondo is at a distance watching the scene.

Have a good night.

Love, Dad/Ray.

The question asked of Jesus that prompted these words was this: “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” (v. 23). I suggest that we slice up Jesus’ answer into four nice little pieces. They may be little in size, but I think they’re big in importance.

1. MAKE EVERY EFFORT. Jesus is helping us to understand a vital truth—entering the Kingdom of God is not by accident. It calls for effort—EVERY EFFORT—decisive, all-out, no-other-objective-matters effort—very intentional. Why do you think followers are called DISCIPLES? Do you see the connection to DISCIPLINE? Although we are not saved by our good works, do you think we can make it without focus and commitment and effort? I don’t think so. There is no compelling evidence that anyone (of a reasonably sound mind) is going to accidentally fall into heaven.

2. ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR. Shall we complain to Jesus? “Jesus, don’t you think this word NARROW is a bit…well…NARROW?” Jesus would probably say, “Very.” It is so narrow that Peter was inspired to proclaim, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Whew! That’s NARROW!

3. MANY WILL TRY TO ENTER. I hope you can recognize a distinction between “effort” and “try.” EFFORT speaks of doing the right thing in the right way. TRY in this application is like futile effort, like doing the right thing in the wrong way—like a person trying to open a safe without following the instructions that contain the combination. Actually, the seriousness of the situation Jesus presents is more like a person trying to deactivate a destructive time bomb without knowing how.

4. NOT BE ABLE TO. It is helpful to understand that IF there was any other way for men to measure up to “the glory of God” (Romans 3:23; 5:2) and make heaven their home than the ONE WAY God graciously offers, even though it be NARROW, Jesus would not have had to come and die as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29, 36). I hereby reaffirm—there is absolutely no way I can achieve for myself what Christ achieved for me on the cross.

So, how many ways are there to Eternal Life? Let’s count them: ONE.