In the face of evil this week, a group of innocent children had a home to go to. I guarantee you that after bullets were fired, heaven opened its doors and Jesus came to carry each one of them in His arms into their eternal home.
Everyone should be thankful for the eternal home that God offers us. For children, it is automatic. Jesus tells His disciples in Matthew 19:14-15, “‘Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’ And He placed His hands on their heads and blessed them before He left.”
At some point, you reach an age where God holds you accountable for your sins, and you must confess your sins and receive the gift of salvation through His Son in order to go home when death knocks at your door. The Bible is silent on a particular age. I have heard that it may be around the age of 13. It must be at some point where God knows that you understand right from wrong. It must be a sign of maturity that only God can see within you.
Since no one knows when this “shift” takes place, it is vital to teach your children the Good News and help them to choose to follow Jesus. Prayers for them must be an integral part of their salvation process. It should begin when they are being knit together by God’s very hand within the womb. With urgency, little ones need to be introduced to God’s Word and taught how to read and study it for the Bible is the lifeline for life.
If you weren’t taught these things while young, I have great news! You can learn today. From this moment forward, you can seek God. Jesus tells of this in Matthew 7:7-8, “Keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
You will be found by God and Christ will make Himself known to you.
When you become a child of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and follow Him from this day forward, when God comes for you, you have an eternal home to go to.
What makes this eternal decision necessary is found in Matthew 7:13-14, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell (the road that leads to destruction) is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
In Luke 13:22-30, you gain insight into why the gate is narrow. As Jesus was teaching in various towns, someone asked Him if only a few will be saved. His reply is quite eye opening. “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom.”24
What do you think Jesus meant when He said to work hard? How do you work hard to enter through God’s door? I think it begins with humility. What else? How about repentance and a willingness to change? What is a somber reality found in verse 24?
What is another somber reality found in verses 25-27? Jesus is referring to religious people, those who go to church, read their Bibles, take communion, help others, etc. Why would God reject them? Aren’t they Christians? Keep reading, the answer is at the end of the third paragraph down.
As Jesus spoke in this passage, you learn that a day is coming when the door will be closed and locked; see verse 25. Those on the outside will know their fate and they will have a deep regret; see verse 28. For the few who chose to follow Jesus, they will take their place in the Kingdom of God; see verse 29.
This world is becoming more hostile, especially towards God and anyone associated with Him. One never knows if they will be in the wrong place at the wrong time, like those at the elementary school in Texas.
You have a home to go to when God calls for you. So, it is good to ask, what side of the door are you on? Please take this seriously. Don’t assume either. Have you repented of your sins? Do you believe Jesus died for your sins? Do you believe that Jesus is alive in heaven? Do you clearly understand that Satan is real and so is hell? Are you willing to change the direction of your life? Are you willing to give up the things you love here on earth and follow Jesus, letting Him take away what needs to be removed and to give you what you need? Will you trust Him? Will Jesus be your priority? Essentially, will you obey God?
God is willing, my friend, to give His Kingdom to you. He wants to take you home one day so you can live with Him forever, but the choice is up to you.
Carol J German 