Confronting the Last Days

“Are only a few people going to be saved?”

This question was posed by Jesus’ disciples while they went through towns and villages telling them of the Good News. We shouldn’t be surprised by their question. Our human minds have a difficult time grasping how a loving God can send so many to eternal grief and remorse.

In the ongoing conflict between good and evil, philosophers and writers attempt to instill the notion that all people are inherently good. When evil rears its ugly head in books and movies, people will always root for love and goodness to win. The Bible teaches a completely different notion. All people are born into sin. All people are inherently evil. Love and goodness in our world can only come from God. The question is not, “Are only a few people going to be saved?” Instead, the question is “How can anybody be saved?”

“Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord are only a few people going to be saved?” He 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. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”  (Luke 13:22-30)

A stunning portrait is given in the Bible of the last days, and they are vastly different than the secular version of what the future will behold.

The world teaches that there is inherent good in most people and love conquers all. The world says wide is the road that leads to eternal happiness and narrow are the minds who think differently.

The Bible teaches that there is inherent evil in all people, and perfect love has already conquered all. The sacrificial love of God sent his one and only son to conquer death, sin, and the forces of evil.

When Jesus says wide is the road that leads to eternal destruction and narrow is the road that leads to life, what does he implore? “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door.”

I am reminded of the story of Noah.

What was it like when Noah was building an ark? In the world’s eyes, it was an utterly foolish project. He was mercilessly laughed at and ridiculed.

I wonder if Noah even tried to ask people to help him. I wonder if he eventually stopped convincing people to repent from their sins and follow the one, true God. The world may have been too evil at the time. It took a drastic act – to build an ark – to save his family from God’s judgement.

Sometimes we feel like Noah when we want to build of ark of spiritual protection for our families so that they may be saved from this world. But children grow up and leave our spiritual ark built upon God’s means of grace. Will they be safe? Will they heed the words of instruction and warning? Will they be able to stave off fleshly pursuits where absolute truth is increasingly fuzzy?

“Don’t Ignore the Spiritual Struggle”

Not long ago, our smoke alarm went off at 2:00 in the morning. It was only two short piercing beeps, but it was enough to awaken me from a deep slumber. More annoyed than anything, I went downstairs to check out what may have triggered the alarm. I grumbled to myself about how difficult it was going to be to get back to sleep.

My episode reminded me that we live in a society that is increasingly getting hostile to Christianity – especially organized religion — and less tolerant for those who take the Bible seriously. I imagine that believers today can sound like a false smoke alarm in the middle of the night. Abrasive. Annoying. Terrible timing. People respond with polite indifference to our attempts to share the gospel by saying, “That’s nice. Good luck. Just let me go back to sleep.”

As fellow believers in Christ — those who are set apart from God to share a message of salvation — we feel uncomfortable and hesitant to wrestle people awake from their spiritual slumber. We don’t want to be an abrasive alarmist, nor intrusive.

We are reluctant to rescue people from a promised future for those who reject Christ.

It would be easier to rescue people from a burning house when there are flames present. It would be easier to rescue people who are drowning in the lake. It’s nearly impossible to try and rescue people when they already feel safe and secure.

Yes, it is tough to be a Noah in today’s world. It is challenging to build a spiritual ark to keep our families safe. It’s intimidating to tell our neighbors there is going to be a day of judgment.

No wonder there are only going to be a few people saved.

But that’s not God’s fault.

He wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.

There is a great contest or struggle at hand for every person’s soul. There are bitter conflicts that prompts repentance and bring a person to receive faith in our Savior. Jesus could be saying to us, “Don’t ignore the spiritual struggle. There will be a time when the doors of opportunity are closed. And like smoke detectors that shrill in the middle of the night, those doors may close at any time. Make every effort to remain in Christ and you will be saved.”

Evangelists proclaim that the doors of heaven are open by proclaiming the powerful words of the gospel. While resting in our salvation because of what Christ has already done for us, we can fearlessly proclaim our confidence and assurance to others.