Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.  Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?"  He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.  When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then in reply he will say to you, 'I do not know where you come from.'  Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'  But he will say, 'I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!'  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out.

Salvation requires effort on our part.  "Strive," Jesus tells us.  Other translations read "try your hardest" and "make every effort."  Of what does our effort consist?  To enter through the narrow gate.  What is the gate?  Jesus Christ.  "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep... I am the gate.  Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture."  (John 10.7-9)  How does one enter through the gate?  Obviously through faith and obedience to Jesus Christ.  In fact faith is obedience (Romans 1.5).

Many will try to enter and will not be able.  Why?  They have perhaps chosen another door or have decided not to enter through Christ.  More subtle yet is the possibility that they simply presumed they would always be able to enter, that they would decide at a later time to reform their life and choose Christ.  Even worse, that Christ's goodness would overshadow their need to reform.  We learn from this passage that there will come a time when the door will be slammed shut.  When eternity dawns, the never ending light descends down from the heavenly realm and the sound of endless choirs of angels wafts like the sweetest perfume, a permanent closure will be erected for eternity and some will be left outside.  O holy fear which should spurn us on to try to enter the narrow gate while it is open due to mercy, before it closes due to justice!  The souls outside will bang on the door in final, desperate despair.  "But we knew of you, Lord!" they will cry.  Then they will learn that their lives were lived in presuming salvation by association.  "You knew of me but I know you not, for you did not enter into me by faith and obedience.  And now you are eternally damned while the saints shall dwell in me in eternal bliss, forever joyful, peaceful and secure.  And now depart from me, for I no longer know the prior age, it is finished forever."  Then the damned will cry and grind their teeth in the darkness, knowing that they are the cause of their own eternal torment.

Will not these words convert?  Will they not inspire Christians to try to convert others, by deed, word or example?  Will not love impel us now, while God's mercy is in our heart, whereas later we will praise his justice?