The Narrow Door

As a child, I always knew who Jesus was—God’s Son who came to save us from our sins. I could tell you that, no problem, but I honestly didn’t know what that meant. Why did I need to be saved? Why could only Jesus do it? I had no clue, but I was content to be unaware of those details.

I was exposed to God’s Word, so hearing God’s stories, reciting stories, and gaining general knowledge of some Scriptures categorized my faith life. My faith in God all existed in the realm of my head knowledge but missed penetrating my heart. I confessed that Jesus is Lord with my mouth, but I hadn’t experienced the transformation of Christ in my soul.

My faith in Jesus was mere lip service. Jesus was my get-out-of-jail-free card. Anytime I found myself sinning, I would talk myself out of any guilt I was feeling because I believed in Jesus and, therefore, I knew He would forgive my sin and I believed I’d be set for heaven regardless. I used this as an excuse to continue to be the god of my own life, living totally in disregard to Jesus’ call for repentance and obedience. 

Then, Jesus radically transformed my life. The head knowledge clicked in my heart, and I repented and surrendered myself to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. 

Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’” (Luke 13:23-27)

As I grew in my faith and started reading Scripture, I was deeply saddened by this passage from Luke 13:23-27. I wasn’t sad because I wanted there to be more than one way to eternity with Christ, but because I recognized my past self in this passage—and that there are so many living like I was all those years ago. 

Jesus says we must “work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.” Trapped in a cycle of sin, it can feel hard to give up the pleasures of the world. Many know of Jesus, but they are not known by Him. We can sit in a church service, sing worship songs, and even talk about Jesus all day long, but until our hearts have been radically changed and surrendered over to Christ, we very well could be failing to enter the narrow door. 

Today, if you’re challenged by this devotional and wondering where you stand, I encourage you to spend time in prayer with the Lord. Ask Him to reveal any hidden sin holding you back from a full life in Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to fully open your heart so that you can surrender yourself to the Lord. Repent from your sin and run full-speed into the abundant love of Jesus. 

Use this prayer to help get you started:

Heavenly Father, I know the door to enter Your kingdom is narrow. It is only through my submission to Christ that I can enter. Father, help me remove the things in my life holding me back from fully surrendering to You. Send Your Holy Spirit to convict me and help strengthen me as I repent and walk away from my sin. Let my whole life be fully devoted to You. I am no longer the god of my life; You are my God. Thank You. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.