Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’”
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’”
“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’”
“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

I love to prepare feasts for large gatherings of people. For twelve years our family has run football tailgates, catered non-profit events, and enjoyed the fellowship these feasts facilitate. I have had some great times watching football and talking about life with friends and clients alike. When you feed people, it draws them together. I think this is one of the reasons we find Jesus helped to feed some large crowds in his time. One time he fed 5,000 men plus women and children, another time 4,000.

While I can’t claim those numbers, I have fed over 100 many times and over 200 a couple of times. What I enjoy is trying to make the food “the best” they have ever tasted, the setting welcoming and convenient, and the service friendly.

When Jesus talks about the great feast here, it is a metaphor to dwelling with God in heaven. Imagine a feast that never ended? How AWESOME!

And there is a warning here as well. Don’t wait too long to show up to the party or you will be locked out! We all have an expiration date on this earth, and we must decide who we will follow. Will we follow The Way, The Truth, and The Life, aka Jesus, or will we follow our own selfish desires?

Once the door closes, our time here has expired, and it will be too late. So very sad for those who waited too long.

Some say: “I am not good enough for Jesus yet.” The Savior says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬)

Some say, “Living life by my own rules is too fun.” The Apostle Peter says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭9‬)

Some say, “How do I know I can trust God when I see fear and evil all around me?”

The Psalmist says: “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33‬:‭4‬-‭5‬)

So we get to decide: Will we choose the easy path (the common worldly track) which results in a life controlled by fear and sin and pain? Or move to trust God which embraces the adventure of the unknown by letting go of control? By following his Son, Jesus, we are ushered into salvation here on earth and freedom from so many things and into eternal life forevermore!

Lord, thank you for calling us to a point of decision. May many of my friends who are still waiting risk it and choose you. I desire more to join me and my fellow Christ-followers in the pursuits of the King! Lead on King Jesus!