1 Samuel 30: 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”
He replied, 24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.
We can't earn our way into the Kingdom. It is all God! God sent His only Son who lived a perfect life and became the only acceptable sacrifice to pay the punishment for our sins on our behalf. He took our sin and gave us His righteousness. That's all God. But even though Jesus died for everyone, and even though God extends the offer of forgiveness to everyone, not everyone accepts it.
The Bible teaches both the doctrine of election, and the doctrine of free will - it's like they are two side of a coin. We don't understand exactly how they work together, but God does! He elects. We choose to follow, and daily commit to carrying our cross while we follow. We work, not to earn salvation, but as proof of our salvation. We work to please Him and become more like Him because we are grateful for His saving power in our lives.
We need to desire to know Him, and we need to diligently strive to follow him no matter the cost. And we cannot put this decision off forever, because at some point the narrow door will close - whether it's because of our own death, or because of the second coming of Jesus.
This Easter Sunday, I am thankful that He not only paid the price for our sin, but rose 3 days later, conquering death and sin forever!
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Samuel 1-2; Luke 14:1-24
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