Day 218, Year 1

Does Everyone Have a Time Limit to Enter the Narrow Door?

Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:24 NASB)

The Lord Jesus makes it clear that there is a time limit for each of us to enter God’s kingdom through His narrow door. There are two explanations for this time frame. First, it is a collective time frame for humans to enter the door before the very end of the world. When time is up, Jesus will judge the world, and no one will ever have the opportunity to believe in Him. This explanation is probably not controversial. Second, it is a personalized interpretation, meaning that if a person refuses to believe in Jesus so many times within a certain period of time, he or she will no longer have any opportunity to come to faith in Him again. For instance, some elders who develop dementia have difficulty understanding the Gospels. This could be interpreted as their time has passed. I suggest that both interpretations can be accepted as they do not contradict each other.

At an individual level, I have observed that, having rejected Jesus multiple times, some unbelievers have developed a habit of refusing Him, which hinders them from accepting Him even in times of need. Moreover, when people consider whether to welcome Jesus, spiritual forces are usually involved. In other words, unbelievers often accept the proposal or doubts of the devil, leading them to reject Him. Its words will bind their hearts like a rope, making it harder and harder for them to come to Christ. Hence, some people intend to believe in Jesus only when they are about to leave the world, but this idea is probably unrealistic.

When it comes to obeying the words of the Lord Jesus, we should seize the time to follow Him promptly, for the more we delay, the more we lose spiritual blessings and abundance. Like in the Gospels, the disciples received the greatest blessings for immediately obeying the Lord’s callings. Conversely, those who delay responding to Him have their ministry and lives deprived by their disobedience, even to the detriment of others. For a person’s disobedience to God can be a curse on oneself or even on others. Besides, some strive to enter through the narrow door while heading towards another goal. Is this feasible? In fact, it is impossible for us to head toward goals in different directions simultaneously. Because it is unrealistic for us to head toward goals in the opposite or sidetracked direction from the narrow door. In other words, we can only strive to pursue goals or directions that align with God’s narrow door.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you always seize the opportunity to obey Jesus’ calling immediately? Or, what reason do you have to procrastinate? If so, how do you rely on the Lord to solve the problem?

2) Is it your goal in life to single-mindedly strive to enter the narrow door that the Lord Jesus speaks of? Why?