The Glass Door of Heaven by Bryan Craig

“In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Luke 13:28-30 ESV

Not all people will go to Heaven.  Let me say this again.  Not all people will go to Heaven.  Jesus was clear on this.  Jesus, who is the self-declared “way, truth and the life” (see John 14:6) taught about Heaven and Hell.  I was reading Luke 13:20-30 in my God-Seeking time and this account by Jesus really struck me.

Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”  Good question, that we even wrestle with today.  Jesus goes on to respond with one of his accounts of the pathway to heaven being a “narrow door.”   In Matthew 7, Jesus says it this way: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Vs.13-14 ESV

So, Jesus says the narrow door or gate is a hard way, yet it leads to life.  He also says in the Luke 13 passage that the door doesn’t stay open for long.  There comes a time when the door shuts.  Then there are people knocking on the door wanting to come in, but it’s too late.  That is a chilling thought to me.  This is also reminiscent of Matthew 25 in the parable of the 10 virgins and 5 who were foolish and were not ready for the bridegroom. 

Back to Luke 13, the people are saying, “Lord, open the door.”  Yes, they call Him Lord. Jesus says to them, “I don’t know where you come from.”  Matthew 7 says it this way:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Vs. 21-23 ESV

In the Luke passage, the people say, “But wait…we ate and drank in your presence and you taught in our streets.”  And Jesus replies:

“I tell you, I do not know where you come from.  Depart from me, all you workers of evil!  In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth…”

The disturbing part about all of this is that the people thought they were fine.  Some prophesied.  Some cast out demons.  Some did mighty works.  Some ate and drank in His presence.  Some listened to his teaching.

My interpretation of this could be…

But I went to church every Sunday.

But I was part of a Bible study.

But I called myself a Christian.

But I used the name of Jesus.

But I wore a Jesus t-shirt.

None of the religious practices or activities seem to please Jesus as sufficient for salvation.  The distinctive is clear. 

Does Jesus know us?  Do we know Him?

In John 10:14, Jesus says He is the “good shepherd” and of his sheep He says, “I know my own and my own know me.”  In John 10:7, Jesus goes as far as to say, HE IS THE DOOR!

Back to Luke 13, as Jesus describes those who will be shut out and experiencing weeping and gnashing of teeth, He says, YOU WILL SEE Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the prophets and people from the east, west, north and south sitting at the table in Heaven. 

So, not only will people be shut out of heaven, it is as if the door is glass, and they will be able to see what they are missing.  How tragic!

As I read all of this, it grieves my heart to think of so many who think they are saved, who think their heavenly door is open, when they will be surprised to find out it’s shut.  I encourage all who are reading this to go to Jesus NOW.  Tell Him you believe in Him, and you want to get to know Him and make Him Lord of your life.  It is not about being religious.  It is about knowing Him. 

This is what Abiding is all about. Give Him your life.  Start seeking to know Him from His Word.  If you are not reading and studying God’s Word, you won’t really know Him.  Start walking with Him daily in Prayer and surrender, allowing room for the Holy Spirit (Jesus’ Spirit) to guide you.  Let Jesus (the Good Shepherd) take you through the narrow gate and into the pasture He has prepared for you. 

If your life is about you, and your plans, your goals, with a little bit of Jesus sprinkled around the edges, you may be on the wrong path and you may be missing the open door.  Please seek the door and go through it, before it’s too late.