| NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--One of the more humbling experiences from my days in the corporate world was being told that my reserved seat on the company jet was revoked at the last minute to make room for a late-arriving executive. Not to worry. I was offered the one remaining seat, located in the plane's lavatory, where the toilet came equipped with a safety belt. Rather than cool my heels on the tarmac, I swallowed my pride and took my place on the porcelain throne. It reminded me of the parable Jesus told in Luke 14:7-11, rebuking those who reclined at the choicest seats at a wedding banquet. Even more, it brought to mind the future humiliation Jesus said would come to those boasting of a place in the Kingdom of heaven, yet being cast out. Though the Kingdom is open to all who receive Christ by faith, the day is coming when those who falsely stake their claim to the Kingdom will be unceremoniously shown the door. From Jesus' own lips, it appears there are at least three types of people who will be cast out of the Kingdom of heaven: 1. Those that trust their lineage. In Jesus' day there was great expectation the Messiah would come -- a charismatic military and political leader who would restore Israel to its Davidic glory. Overlooking the necessity of the Suffering Servant, many Jews wrongly assumed that when the Kingdom of heaven came, they would be welcomed as citizens by reason of their Abrahamic heritage. Jesus confronts that false notion in Matthew 8:11-12, after healing a Roman centurion's servant: "I tell you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Entrance into the kingdom was not -- and is not -- gained through natural birth. The apostle Paul, who wished himself accursed for the sake of his Jewish countrymen, nevertheless made it clear in Romans 9:6, "For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." Jesus was even more to the point: "ou must be born again" (John 3:7). Salvation is not a matter of race, national boundaries or language. As the Apostle John noted, people of every "tribe and language and people and nation" are standing before God's throne in heaven (Revelation 5:9). How did they get there? The Lamb of God was "slaughtered" and "redeemed people for God" by His blood (Revelation 5:8). 2. Those that trust their location. In the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30), those of God's Kingdom and Satan's kingdom live side by side and are practically indistinguishable. Only at harvest time, when the tares stand ramrod straight but bear no edible fruit, and the wheat is bowed with heads of golden grain, does the harvester separate them. The wheat goes into the barn but the tares are burned. In the parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50), good and bad fish swim in the same waters and are taken in the same net, yet they are meticulously separated on the shore. The good fish are gathered into baskets while the bad fish are tossed aside. Many people, by virtue of their "location" in a church, believe their association with Christianity will save them. But just as living in a garage doesn't make you a car, joining a church doesn't make you a Christian. In fact, only the trained eye of Christ knows the wheat from the tares and the good fish from the bad. Some are so experienced at playing the game, they believe the lie that their goodness merits eternal life. They will be startled on judgment day when they are separated eternally from God. They will argue that they preached in Jesus' name, cast out demons and performed miracles. Jesus does not deny their works but replies, "I never knew you! Depart from Me" (Matthew 7:23). Continued... |