Luke 13:24-25, "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.'"

Think

There's a reason you won't find today's verse on coffee mugs or t-shirts. Hell doesn't sell! People don't like being reminded about the reality of hell. Yet, true self-awareness includes knowing where we're going to spend eternity, and that certainty only comes from knowing God. Here's a frightening fact: Many people who think they're Christians really aren't. It's important to understand that in today's text, Jesus wasn't addressing a pack of pagans. He was talking to the "church" crowd, those who assumed they were headed toward heaven because they were decent, law-abiding Jews. What they didn't know was that although they were acquainted with Jesus, He wasn't acquainted with them. And although they were "religious," they'd never taken His message to heart. Jesus' message was clear, "Repent or perish!" There's only one way in to heaven. That way is through a personal relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. Don't assume you can wait to make this decision. Time is of the essence, because the only time you are certain of is now, and only God knows how much time you have left. Have you personally entered through the "narrow door"? Remember, just because we know about Jesus, doesn't mean we truly know Him. Do you know God? And more importantly, does God know you? Because there's no greater peace than that which comes from knowing where you're going, and the One you are going to!

Act

Read Luke 13:22-30. Does it frighten you to think about the people you know who are facing eternal separation from God? Make a list of these people's names, and pray for them. Then place the list in your Bible on the same page as today's passage. Let it be a reminder of what they're facing, and the importance of sharing the good news of the gospel.

Pray

Father God, thank You for placing eternity on my heart and securing my salvation through Christ. Help me to maintain a narrow focus on the path You've set before me, and to not allow pride, selfishness, or autonomy to hinder me from fulfilling my purpose. In Jesus' name, Amen.