If you want to do me a favour, just make sure I get to heaven.
These are not words that usually come from a preacher; however, I believe them to be wise words for all of us. For if the apostle Paul saw the potential for being “disqualified for the prize,” and that being, “after I have preached to others,” who are we to take things for granted? (1 Corinthians 9:27).
It was Jesus himself who spoke of the superhighway to hell: “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13).
Yes, he calls us to “Enter by the Narrow gate,” but let’s face it, Satan has plenty of real estate going cheap on the road to perdition; and more than a few Christians have signed up.
There are those on “the road that leads to destruction” who believe that they are “on the road that leads to life.” In fact, they would be offended that anyone thought otherwise. Jesus said of them: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’” (Matthew 7:22).
These words should frighten us to our core. After all, do we not lay out before God and man all of our religious acts as proof of faithfulness?
Jesus knows us. That even among the “few” on the narrow road (Matthew 7:14), there are those who have not “died to self.” That though they do many good deeds, they are centred in their own will, not Christ’s. Of these Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
May the “will of the Father” be at the forefront of our work together. And to keep it before each other…that is our Duty of Care!
John Staiger
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