“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and has shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me all we workers of iniquity.”―Luke 13:23-2723Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (Luke 13:23‑27).
I WAS lately at a distance from home, having walked to my destination. My business done, I went to the railway station nearby to take the train back as far as it would serve to shorten the way. As I was getting my ticket I heard the train come in below, and knew it was too late to reach the platform before the door was closed; so went quietly down stairs and stood before the closed door. Standing there I could see the people who were waiting to come through, some of whom looked pityingly at me, seeing my case. I was sorry I had taken the ticket, as I thought there would be a long time to wait for another train. However there was some delay, and an official coming near, I pleaded, “Can’t you let me in?” Without a word he opened the door, and as quickly as I could I got into the train, not that there was any need to hurry, for it did not start at once, only I was so glad to be in it after my experience of standing before that closed door, and expecting to be kept out.
This brought to my mind the facts made known in Luke 13, for there are times in the history of souls when those future scenes seem present realities. It shows the power of God’s Word, who, by His Spirit, makes a certain future the means of awakening the soul to flee to the refuge He has provided in Jesus. Have you, dear reader, fled to Him? If not, may God bring this future scene before your eyes now, and draw the contrast between my situation and yours, if you should begin to stand before that shut door.
A time is coming, we know not how soon, when the Master of the house will rise up and shut the door, Then, people who would not be saved now, will begin to stand without―they are in earnest about salvation then―and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us.” Will He? Nay, He answers, “I tell you, I know you not whence ye are: depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
R. B.