CanTherebeUnity
He says, "Many will try to enter and will not be able to." When will this be? At what period will the door of salvation be shut for ever? When will the "making of every effort" to enter in be of no use? These are serious questions. The door is now ready to open to the chief of sinners; but a day comes when it will open no more. The time foretold by our Lord is the time of His own second coming to judge the world. The patience of God will at last have an end. The throne of grace will at last be taken down, and the throne of judgment will be set up in its place. The fountain of living waters will finally be closed. The narrow door will at last be barred and bolted. The day of grace will be passed and over. The day of reckoning with a sin-laden world will finally begin. And then will be brought to pass the solemn prediction of the Lord Jesus "Many will try to enter in and will not be able to." All prophecies of Scripture that have been fulfilled up to this time, have been fulfilled to the very letter. They have seemed to many unlikely, improbable, impossible, up to the very time of their accomplishment; but not one word of them has ever failed. The promises of "good things" have come to pass, in spite of difficulties that seemed impossible: 1. Sarah had a son when she was well past the age for the bearing of children. 2. The children of Israel were brought out of Egypt and planted in the promised land. 3. The Jews were redeemed from the captivity of Babylon, after seventy years, and enabled once more to build the temple. 4. The Lord Jesus was born of a pure virgin, lived, ministered, was betrayed, and cut off, precisely as Scripture foretold.
The Word of God was promised in all these cases, that it should be. And so it was. The predictions of judgments on cities and nations have come to pass, though at the time they were first spoken they seemed incredible. Edom is a wilderness; Tyre is a rock for drying nets; Nineveh, that "greater than great city," is laid waste, and become a desolation; Babylon is a dry land and a wilderness—her extensive walls are utterly broken down. In all these cases the Word of God foretold that it should be so. And so it was. The prediction of the Lord Jesus Christ which I press on your attention this day, will be fulfilled in like manner. Not one word of it will fail when the time of its accomplishment is due. "Many will try to enter in and will not be able to." There is a time coming when seeking God will be useless. Oh, that men would remember that! Too many seem to believe that the hour will never arrive when they will seek and not find: but they are sadly mistaken. They will discover their mistake one day to their own confusion, except they repent. When Christ comes "many will try to enter in, and will 'not be able to.'" There is a time coming when many will be shut out from heaven forever. It will not be the lot of a few, but of a great multitude; it will not happen to one or two in this area, and one or two in another: it will be the miserable end of a immense crowd. "'Many' will try to enter in, and will not be able to." Knowledge will come to many too late. They will see at last the value of an immortal soul, and the happiness of having it saved. They will understand at last their own sinfulness and God's holiness, and the glorious fitness of the Gospel of Christ. They will comprehend at last why ministers seemed so anxious, and preached so long, and implored them so earnestly to be converted. But, to their grief, they will know all this "too late!"
Repentance will come to many too late. They will discover their own surpassing wickedness and be thoroughly ashamed of their past folly. They will be full of bitter regret and hopeless wailings, of keen convictions and of piercing sorrows. They will weep, and wail, and mourn, when they reflect on their sins. The remembrance of their lives will be grievous to them; the burden of their guilt will seem intolerable. But, to their grief, like Judas Iscariot, they will repent "too late!" Faith will come to many too late. They will no longer be able to deny that there is a God, and a devil, a heaven, and a hell. False religion, and skepticism, and unfaithfulness will be laid aside forever; scoffing, and joking, and free-thinking will cease. They will see with their own eyes and feel in their own bodies, that the things of which ministers spoke were not cleverly devised fables, but great real truths. They will find out to their cost that evangelical religion was not lip service, extravagance, fanaticism, and enthusiasm: they will discover that it was the one thing they needed, and that the lack of it will cause them to be lost forever. Like the devil, they will finally believe and tremble, but "too late!" A desire of salvation will come to many too late. They will long after forgiveness, and peace, and the favor of God, when they can no more be had. They will wish they might have one more Sunday over again, have one more offer of forgiveness, have one more call to prayer. But it will matter nothing what they think, or feel, or desire then: the day of grace will be over; the door of salvation will be bolted and barred. It will be "too late!" I often think what a change there will be one day in the price and estimation at which things are valued. I look around this world in which my lot is cast; I note the current price of everything this world contains; I look forward to the coming of Christ, and the great day of God. I think of the new order of things, which that day will bring in; I read the words of the Lord Jesus, when He describes the master of the house rising up and shutting the door; and as I read, I say to myself, "There will be a great change soon." What are the "dear things" now? Gold, silver, precious stones, bank notes, mines, ships, lands, houses, horses, cars, furniture, food, drink, clothes, and the like. These are the things that are thought valuable; these are the things that command a ready market; these are the things which you can never get below a certain price. He that has a lot of these things is counted a wealthy man. Such is the world! And what are the "cheap things" now? The knowledge of God, the free salvation of the Gospel, the favor of Christ, the grace of the Holy Spirit, the privilege of being God's son, the title to eternal life, the right to the tree of life, the promise of a room in the Father's House in heaven, the promises of an incorruptible inheritance, the offer of a crown of glory that does not fade away. These are the things that no man hardly cares for. They are offered to the sons of men without money and without price: they may be had for nothing—freely and generously. Whosoever will may take his share. But, sadly, there is no demand for these things! They go begging. They are scarcely looked at. They are offered in vain. Such is the world! But a day is coming upon us all when the value of everything will be altered. A day is coming when banknotes will be as useless as rags, and gold will be as worthless as the dust of the earth. A day is coming when thousands will care nothing for the things for which they once lived, and will desire nothing so much as the things which they once despised. The mansions and palaces will be forgotten in the desire of a "house not made with hands." The favor of the rich and great will be remembered no more, in the longing for the favor of the King of kings. The silks, and satins, and velvets, and laces, will be lost sight of in the anxious need of the robe of Christ's righteousness. All will be altered, all will be changed in the great day of the Lord's return. "Many will try to enter in and will not be able to"
It was a weighty saying of some wise man, that "hell is truth known too late." I fear that thousands of those who profess to be Christians in this day will find this out by experience. They will discover the value of their souls when it is too late to obtain mercy, and see the beauty of the Gospel when they can derive no benefit from it. Oh, that men would be wise early in life! I often think there are few passages of Scripture more awful than that in the first chapter of Proverbs, But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— When calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, They will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. (Proverbs 1:24-31) Some reader of this paper may be one of those who neither like the faith nor practice which the Gospel of Christ requires. You think that we are extreme when we implore you to repent and be converted. You think we ask too much when we urge you to come out from the world, and take up the cross, and follow Christ. But take notice that you will one day confess that we were right. Sooner or later, in this world or the next, you will acknowledge that you were wrong. Yes! It is a sad consideration for the faithful minister of the Gospel, that all who hear him will one day acknowledge that his counsel was good. Mocked, despised, scorned, neglected as his testimony may be on earth, a day is coming which will prove that truth was on his side. The rich man who hears us and yet makes a god of this world—the tradesman who hears us and yet makes his ledger his Bible—the farmer who hears us and yet remains cold as the clay on his land— the worker who hears us and feels no more for his soul than a stone— all, all will in time acknowledge before the world that they were wrong. All will in time earnestly desire that very mercy which we now set before them in vain. "They will try to enter in, and will not be able to." Some reader of this paper may be one of those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Such an one may well take comfort when he looks forward. You often suffer persecution now for Christianity's sake. You have to bear hard words and unkind insinuations. Your motives are often misrepresented, and your conduct slandered. The reproach of the cross has not ceased. But you may take courage when you look forward and think of the Lord's second coming. That day will make amends for all. You will see those who now laugh at you because you read the Bible, and pray, and love Christ, in a very different state of mind. They will come to you as the foolish virgins came to the wise, saying, "Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out" (Matthew 25:8). You will see those who now hate you and call you fools because, like Caleb and Joshua, you bring up a good report of Christ's service. Some day they will say, "Oh, that we had taken part with you! You have been the truly wise, and we the foolish." Then do not fear the reproach of men. Confess Christ boldly before the world. Show your colors, and do not be ashamed of your Master. Time is short: eternity rushes on. The cross is only for a short time: the crown is forever. "Many will try to enter in, and will not be able to." And now let me offer to everyone who reads this paper a few parting words, in order to apply the whole subject to his soul. You have heard the words of the Lord Jesus unfolded and expounded. You have seen the picture of the way of salvation: it is a narrow door—You have heard the command of the King: "Make every effort to enter in"—You have been told of His solemn warning: "Many will try to enter in, and will not be able to"—Bear with me a little longer while I try to impress the whole matter on your conscience. I still have something to say on God's behalf. (1) For one thing, I will ask you a simple question. "Have you entered in through the narrow door or not? Old or young, rich or poor, religious or atheist, I repeat my question, "Have you entered in through the narrow door? I do not ask whether you have heard of it, and believe there is a door. I do not ask whether you have looked at it, and admired it, and hope one day to go through. I ask whether you have gone up to it, knocked on it, been admitted, and "are now inside?" If you are not inside, what good have you got from your religion? You are not pardoned and forgiven. You are not reconciled to God. You are not born again, sanctified, and suitable for heaven. If you die as you are, you will live in the same place of torment as the devil will— forever, and your soul will be eternally miserable. Oh, think, think what a state this is to live in! Think, think above all things, what a state this is to die in! Your life is but a vapor. A few more years at most and you are gone: your place in the world will soon be filled up; your house will be occupied by another. The sun will go on shining; the grass and daises will soon grow thick over your grave; your body will be food for worms, and your soul will be lost for all of eternity. And all this time there stands open before you a door of salvation. God invites you. Jesus Christ offers to save you. All things are ready for your deliverance. Only one thing is lacking, and that is that you should be willing to be saved. Oh think of these things, and be wise!
(2) For another thing, I will give plain advice to all who are not yet inside the narrow door. That advice is simply this: "to enter in without a day's delay." Tell me, if you can, of anyone who ever reached heaven except through "the narrow door." I know of none. From Abel, the first who died, down to the end of the list of Bible names, I see none saved by any way but faith in Christ. Tell me, if you can, of anyone who ever entered through the narrow door without "making every effort." I know of none except those who die in infancy. He that would win heaven must be content to fight for it. Tell me, if you can, of anyone who ever strove earnestly to enter, and failed to succeed. I know of none. I believe that however weak and ignorant men may be, they never seek life heartily and conscientiously, at the right door, and are left without an answer of peace. Tell me, if you can, of anyone who ever entered through the narrow door, and was sorry afterwards. I know of none. I believe the footsteps on the threshold of the door are all one way. All have found it a good thing to serve Christ, and have never regretted taking up His cross. If these things are true, seek Christ without delay, and enter through the door of life while you can! Make a beginning this very day. Go to that merciful and mighty Saviour in prayer, and pour out your heart before Him. Confess to Him your guilt and wickedness and sin. Open your heart freely to Him: keep nothing back. Tell Him that you put yourself and all your soul's affairs wholly on His hands, and ask Him to save you according to His promise, and put His Holy Spirit within you.
There is everything "to encourage you to do this." Thousands as bad as you have applied to Christ in this way, and not one of them has been sent away and refused. They have found a peace of conscience they never knew before, and have gone on their way rejoicing. They have found strength for all the trials of life, and none of them have been allowed to perish in the wilderness. Why shouldn't you also seek Christ? There is everything to encourage you to do what I tell you "at once." I know no reason why your repentance and conversion should not be as immediate as that of others before you. The Samaritan woman came to the well an ignorant sinner, and returned to her home a new creature. The Philippian jailer turned from darkness to light, and became a professed disciple of Christ in a single day. And why shouldn't others do the same? Why shouldn't you give up your sins, and trust in Christ this very day? I know that the advice I have given you is good. The grand question is, Will you take it? (3) The last thing I have to say will be a request to all who have really entered through the narrow door. That request is, that you will tell others of the blessings which you have found I want all converted people to be missionaries. I do not want them all to go out to foreign lands, and preach to the heathen; but I do want all to be of a missionary spirit, and to make every effort to do good at home. I want them to testify to all around them that the narrow door is the way to happiness, and to persuade them to enter through it. When Andrew was converted he found his brother Peter, and said to him, "'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus" (John 1:41-42). When Philippians was converted he found Nathaniel, and said to him, "'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' 'Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?' Nathaniel asked. 'Come and see,' said Philip" (John 1:45-46). When the Samaritan woman was converted, "Leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 'Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?'" (John 4:28-29). When Saul the Pharisee was converted, "At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20). I long to see this kind of spirit among Christians in the present day. I long to see more zeal to commend the narrow door to all who are yet outside, and more desire to persuade them to enter through and be saved. Happy indeed is that Church whose members not only desire to reach heaven themselves, but desire also to take others with them! The great door of salvation is still ready to open, but the hour draws near when it will be closed forever. Let us work while it is called today, for "night is coming, when no one can work" (John 9:4). Let us tell our relatives and friends, that we have accepted the way of life and found it pleasant, that we have tasted the bread of life and found it good. I have heard it calculated that if every believer in the world were to bring one soul to Christ each year, the whole human race would be converted in less than twenty years. I make no comment on such a calculation. Whether such a thing might be or not, one thing is sure: that thing is, that many more "souls might probably be converted to God, if Christians were more zealous to do good." This, at least, we may remember, that God does "not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). He that endeavours to show his neighbor the narrow door is doing a work which God approves. He is doing a work which angels regard with interest, and with which the building of a pyramid will not compare in importance. What does the Scripture say? "Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (James 5:20).
Let us all awaken to a deeper sense of our responsibility in this matter. Let us look around the circle of those among whom we live, and consider their state before God. Are there not many of them yet outside the door, unforgiven, unsanctified, and not prepared to die? Let us watch for opportunities of speaking to them. Let us tell them of the narrow door, and entreat them to "make every effort to enter in." Who can tell what "a word spoken at the right time" may do? Who can tell what it may do when spoken in faith and prayer? It maybe the turning point in some man's history. It may be the beginning of thought, prayer, and eternal life. Oh, for more love and boldness among believers! Think what a blessing to be allowed to speak one converting word! I do not know what the feelings of my readers may be on this subject. My heart's desire and prayer is that you may daily remember Christ's solemn words, "Many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." Keep these words in mind.
Authentic Religion
"Rejected silver" (Jeremiah 6:30)
"Nothing but leaves" (Mark 11:13)
"Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
"You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead" (Revelation 3:1)
If we profess to have any religion at all, let us be careful that it is authentic. I say it emphatically, and I repeat the saying: Let us be