BLUF: Beauty of the Narrow Way

Issue: Ever heard someone say, “Well, we’re all God’s children”? I have. Multiple times. But what does that mean, exactly? And is it true? Is your favorite career politician God’s child? Is the murderer of Laken Riley God’s child? Is your greatest enemy God’s child? See, a wise person should ask questions like these so that people will think and not just emote and repeat drivel.

Look to Scripture: In the Gospel of Luke, there’s a very interesting conversation a person has with Christ about this very issue. It is found in Luke 13:22-30:

²² He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. ²³ And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, ²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. ²⁵ When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ ²⁶ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ ²⁸ 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. ²⁹ And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:22-30, ESV)

The person asks, “Will those who are saved be few?” and Christ teaches him plainly that being a follower of Christ is costly. He’s teaching the questioner to ask himself/herself, “Have you come through the narrow way?” It requires entering the narrow door rather than going along the broad way. Christ’s message contradicts the lazy drivel we often hear about everyone being God’s child. If everyone were God’s child, evangelism would be unnecessary. Christian missions would be unnecessary. Calls to follow Christ/calls to salvation in Christ alone would be unnecessary. The Christian church as a body of redeemed believers would be unnecessary.

Encouragement: Scripture tells us that God the Holy Spirit indwells believers. Here’s the way Paul phrases it in Romans: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Rom 8:16-17, ESV).