“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.” (Luke 14:23)
In a “soul-winning” course I once took, the instructor taught us to ask a question of those we evangelized. It was, “If you were to die today and God should ask you, ‘Give Me one reason why I should let you into My heaven?’ what would you say?” The older I get the more I dislike that question. It presents the idea that God only opens the door to heaven grudgingly. It gives the impression that God is indifferent on the matter of whether we spend eternity in heaven or hell – or even that God looks for reasons to keep us out of heaven.
But Jesus’ words here clearly indicate that God wants to fill heaven. God doesn’t want there to be a single unoccupied seat at His banqueting table in the Marriage Feast of the Lamb (Matthew 22:2-14; Revelation 19:7-9).
While it is true that the majority of humanity will not enter the gate or follow the path that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14), this is not by God’s choosing. The God of the Bible, we are told, loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to save it – not to condemn it (John 3:16-17). The Scripture tells us that God gets no pleasure whatsoever from the death of the wicked. Instead, He delights in their salvation (Ezekiel 18:23; 33:11). We are told God is unwilling that anyone should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) and that God desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Jesus is not the sacrifice for a few, but for all, even for the whole world (1 John 2:2-3; John 1:29).
In contrast, Jesus said that hell was only created for the devil and his angels – not for any human being (Matthew 25:41). Heaven is the place God prepared for humanity. Tragically, most of humanity will make themselves unfit for heaven by their own stubborn rebellion. While they clearly don’t belong in hell, hell is the only place for which they are fit.
For God’s sake, don’t lose your place in heaven by neglecting God’s love for you or by treating His kindness with contempt. God’s kindness and love do not constitute a permit to live anyway you please. They are intended to lead you to repentance (Romans 2:4).
REFLECTION
- God is creating a new heaven and a new earth in which only the righteous may live (2 Peter 3:13). Are you preparing yourself for that wonderful place?
- None of us can ever qualify for heaven by our own merit, for God’s standard is perfection (Matthew 5:48) and all of us are guilty of sin (Romans 3:23).
- But all who receive Jesus will be cleansed by His blood and clothed us in His righteousness – making them fit for heaven (John 1:12-13; Revelation 1:5).