²²Jesus continued traveling through towns and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. ²³Someone asked him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’

In reply, ²⁴Jesus urged all the people what to do, ‘Put all your energies into responding to God. Let nothing distract you from entering the kingdom of God through the narrow door, because I warn you that many people will try to go through that door but they won’t be able to. Seize this opportunity now; come to God before it’s too late. ²⁵It will be as if the owner of a house gets up and locks the door and you stand outside and knock on the door, imploring, “Sir, Lord, open the door for us,” but he will answer you, “You’re too late to come in. I don’t know who you are or where you come from.”

²⁶‘Then you will say, “Surely you know who we are; after all, we ate and drank with you! You even taught in our streets!”

²⁷‘But he will tell you, “I don’t know who you are or where you come from. You never responded to my teaching. Get away from me, you evildoers!”

^28‘In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are banished to the outer darkness. Those who reject me will be excluded and have to endure agonizing torment. The basis for enjoying the future banquet in my presence will not be what background you’re from but whether you’ve trusted in me. ²⁹Moreover, people will come from east and west and from north and south – Gentiles will come from all corners of the world – and will take their places with the founding fathers and prophets at the future banquet in the kingdom of God. ³⁰In fact, some who are last will be first and some who are first will be last. Many of those whose lives of humble service go unnoticed will be closest to God while many who are considered most important in worldly terms will be furthest away from God.’

Luke 13:22-30

Key Thought: Come to God before it’s too late.