The Question: The question is found in Luke 13:

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)

Teaching: One of many indicators the Bible is indeed trustworthy is because it speaks what is true, not what is popular. It reveals what we are really like, not what we’d like to think we’re like. It reveals our evil, our whole nature, not just our veneers and facades. It contains hard questions and often caustic answers from God.

The question asked of Christ was blunt. No sugarcoating involved. And Christ answers clearly. He teaches the questioner that the true prophets, men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, e.g., were saved. So are all who truly repent and believe upon the Lord Christ.

But Jesus’ answer also contained a stunning indictment, namely, that there will be many surprises (in men’s eyes) about who was real and who was not. Jesus told the questioner that God will say to many “Depart from me, all you workers of evil” (Luke 13:27, ESV).

That’s arresting language, is it not?

This morning I received a text message from a friend about a pastor in a town where my family and I once lived. The pastor has been arrested. Why? He’s been charged with “multiple counts of Theft by Conversion, Theft by Taking, Computer Theft, and Pandering.”

There are already surprises, see? Sometimes you don’t have to wait, but only discern.

Encouragement: In my many years of Christian ministry to soldiers and civilians, I have said to audiences and to myself more times than I can count: “Keep short accounts with God.” What do I mean? Simply that God sees all, and that we are accountable. Because God is holy, and because we are sinful, wisdom demands we flee to the cross of Christ in repentance and faith. Christ answered the questioner that day, that “some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last” (Luke 13:30, ESV), or as one of my seminary professors and mentors told me again and again, “Jon, there will be surprises.”