Luke 12-13
November 3, 2014

It seems that most of Chapter 12 is about priorities.  It's okay to have food and clothing...it's even necessary, but it shouldn't be our #1 priority.   This kind of thinking turns Maslow's hierarchy on it's head.   The self actualization section, normally found at the pinnacle of the pyramid becomes the bottom, and the much larger base sections of safety, food and clothing become less important.   To say it another way,  being a Christian is counter-intuitive.   We spend most of our time doing three or four things:  working to earn money that we will use for food, clothing, shelter and worrying about how we will either make ends meet, or how much money will be left over for other things, like recreation.
Jesus tells us that most of what is occupying our thoughts is not priority.  We should be worried about what will happen to our eternal body, not just our physical one.   We should be more concerned with storing up treasures in heaven than on earth.   This is a different way of thinking.  In order to think like this, you have to be able to envision life as a journey to another destination instead of a destination in itself.

Really, chapter 13 feeds directly into this line of thought.   12 says to change your priorities, remain alert and know that the Master can return at any time.  Always be doing good, and serving others while you await his return.  In 13 Luke writes that Jesus then went on to warn the people to repent and follow Him.    This repentance leads to a change in life, that will work through your whole family, causing some to accept and others to deny Christ.  The change in you will be transferred beyond your family to your neighborhood, and your town..then your region and eventually the world.

beginning in verse 22, chapter 13 there is a discussion about who is going to be saved.   Jesus says that only those who enter through the narrow door will be saved.   He also says "many will try to enter and not be able to"  which could cause you to think that He is saying that "many are trying to enter through the narrow door, and cannot"  but I don't think that's what it means.   Jesus is saying that many are trying to get into the kingdom, but they are reluctant to enter through Him.  They want to depend on works, or on tradition, or heritage to get them in.  They are trying to enter heaven by some unauthorized way, and it won't work.   Anyone who wants into heaven can enter through Jesus, there's plenty of access for everyone to enter through Him, but He is the only way.   You will not get to heaven by believing that Muhammad can get you there, or Buddha or anyone else.   Only through Jesus Christ.    I understand that these seem to be irritating and argumentative words, but they are only intended to speak the truth, to help those who are trying to find a door to look in the right place.   Why should anyone who is trying to get into heaven be prevented from doing so, when we know the way in?   Tell them about Jesus, and let them make their own decision.   That's my thought.

These chapters end with Christ looking to the future, recognizing that He would suffer and die in Jerusalem, but also knowing that it is for our eternal good that He would do so.   He speaks of his torture and death as a "baptism" that He must undergo.    Many Christians have undergone that same baptism in the years since His crucifixion, and likely many more will follow between now and the end of the tribulation.   We should pray that God gives us strength and clarity to stay the course, in the event that we should be called to give our last full measure of devotion to Him.


PR