22 And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:22–24 (NAS)

Read Luke 13:22-30

I always breathe out a tremendous sigh of relief when I make it through all the TSA checkpoints and can put my shoes and belt back on. It’s like running the gauntlet. Do one thing wrong and they’ll snag you. It’s a struggle especially when you’re late.

Here the Lord warns that the door to the Kingdom is a narrow one, requiring earnest effort (not works but belief) to make it through to the inside. It appears that we must be intimately known by God to get in, and how’s that done? Most would think he’s irreproachable.

True, he is. It’s a case of who you know. To enter through the narrow gate you must know Jesus and he must know you. It seems that the answer to the question, “Are there just a few being saved?” is yes.

You can be in the stadium when the “greatest of all time” is playing, but that does not mean you know him and he knows you. In those days Jesus’ entourage was huge, into the thousands. Whether far or near or first or last, everyone who is privileged to enter the Kingdom must think and believe as Peter did, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29

From Vine’s dictionary, “the single title ‘Christos’ is sometimes used without the article (i.e., Jesus) to signify the One who by His Holy Spirit and power indwells believers and molds their character in conformity to His likeness…the title without the article stresses His character and His relationship with believers.”

The password, or if you will, “your papers,” is “Christ.” The long version is, “I believe you are God’s ‘anointed one,’ the Messiah. ‘And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.’” Acts 4:12, again Peter.

There is much talk and worry these days about “entry requirements.” That we would do the same about our eternal destiny! No one wants to be on the outside looking in.