PODCAST
God’s Arms Wide Open
April 20th, 2011
Luke 13:22-35
God’s inclusive love for the world will surprise us when we get to heaven. God has wide open arms to reach the whole world! However, we always want to segregate so we know the answer to the human question: “Are they getting in?”
Jesus blows this question out of the water and reminds us that it will be a narrow door, but those who “take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God” will come from all over the world–not who you expect. He reminds us again of the paradox that the “first” will be “last.” In the end, we don’t really know who the faithful ones are or who will be saved. “People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7, TNIV).
We don’t have the right to place a judgment on who is “in.” This is not Jesus’ way. Jesus’ way is to have arms wide open to all who accept him, filled with grace and love, letting God give the final answer to our questions.
