A friend sent me a video recently by Christa Elisha where she talks about a vision she had of Jesus walking in front of her, but the distance between them grew and he was leaving her behind. This upset me, it really did—not because of anything offensive, but for the urgency for others to know Jesus, which I have felt the Lord talking to me a lot about recently.
It reminded me of a time when,as a little girl of about three or four years of age, we had just finished our church service. Dad, being the pastor of a small country church, was about to drive some of the elderly folk home in the church bus. As he was leaving, he asked me if I wanted to come with them—but I said no, that I would go home with mum. As he began to drive, I changed my mind and started crying, “Daddy! Wait!”
I chased the bus a bit of the way up the road as fast as my little legs could carry me, sobbing all the way and calling out “Daddy!”, watching the distance between me and my Dad grow, until he heard my cry and stopped the bus to let me in. If he had gone around the corner, I would have missed out. It was honestly such a deep sadness that I felt, seeing my Dad drive away without me, even though it had been my decision not to go at first. Thankfully, I had the chance to change my mind and the door of the vehicle was opened for me to travel with my father.
This week I felt the same urgency when I read Luke chapter 13 verses 22 to 30. Here Jesus warns about making every effort to ‘enter through the narrow door’. He says, “because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ (v. 24-25)
Living in urgent times
I believe we’re living in a time where the door is open to all, but the window of opportunity will soon close. I have spoken to many people lately who have told me of very sobering and frightening moments where they have been confronted with the question, “what if I don’t make it?”
These people are God-sensitive, Bible-believing Christians walking in a close relationship with Jesus, but I believe that God allowed them to feel this great urgency in order to help others, just as He spoke it to me.
I believe God is sending us a warning to be ready, a quickening in our spirit to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ return—and we need to be listening! We have learnt this year that we cannot know what tomorrow brings. The world can change in an instant.
Wake up!
Sometimes it’s good to be scared if that means waking up from our slumber! My non-Christian friends may read this and feel annoyed with me, but I say this out of love for them and for everyone else who does not yet know God. I don’t want anyone to not know. I don’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to know the Creator who loves them so much and offers eternal life. I don’t want the door to be shut to you. I don’t want you to be on the outside where there will be ‘weeping…and gnashing of teeth’. The thought of it actually grieves me to heartbreak. Jesus warns us about it over and over again.
In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive. They were waiting a long time, but five of them were wise and had brought oil in jars along with their lamps in order to keep them burning.
The other five were not prepared for the long wait and ran out of oil, causing their lamps to flicker out while they slept. When the bridegroom arrived at midnight, those who were prepared and ready, trimmed their lamps and were welcomed into the banquet. For the others, the door was shut.
“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew chapter 25 verse 13)
Walk through the open door
Don’t leave it too late. Now is the time to walk through the open door of God’s grace and free gift of life. If you don’t know Jesus, ‘Today’ is the time to get to know the one who gave his life to pay for our sins in order to give us eternal life.
‘If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’ (Romans chapter 10 verse 9)
If you do know him but have let the oil of your lamp flicker out, come back. Feel the urgency—let it permeate your soul. It may not be comfortable, but let that discomfort move you into a place of assurance of eternity with God.
Jesus is coming sooner than we think. He’s knocking at the door of your heart. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, let him in, andplease—be there.
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Luke chapter 14 verse 35)