My Georgia Sunday – The Narrow Gate

GEORGIA FOLK AND FARM LIFE - Driving home from church this morning, I found myself thinking about the Gospel of Luke. Luke tells us that as Jesus made His way toward Jerusalem, He passed through little towns and villages, teaching as He went. Somewhere along the way, someone asked Him, plain and simple: “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

Now, that’s a question that’ll stop you in your tracks. Jesus didn’t dodge it either. He looked at them and said: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, because many will try, but won’t be able.”

That hits hard. He goes on to explain that one day, some folks are going to knock on the door and hear: “I don’t know where you’re from. Depart from me.” He even says there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth when people see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets gathered in God’s kingdom—but themselves left out.

That’s heavy. It almost feels like the bad news just keeps stacking up. But then, Luke shifts—like a cloud giving way to the sun. Jesus says people will come from east and west, north and south, and they’ll sit down together at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. And then He adds: “Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.” Now that sounds like grace to me.

Luke, by most accounts, was a close companion of Paul. And if anybody knew hardship, it was Paul. Beaten, shipwrecked, locked in chains—yet always preaching the good news of Jesus. He kept pressing on, right up until his final days, when he was ultimately martyred for his faith. Luke saw firsthand the love of a man willing to give everything—even his very life—for the Lord.

I’m no biblical scholar, and I’m certainly not an ordained minister, but I can read, I can pray, and I can try my best to trust in God’s saving grace. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me whether I’m first in line or last—I just want to be welcomed into His love when that day comes. I want to hear those words: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

So as this Sunday sun sets and a new week begins, I pray we all keep striving for that narrow gate, and trusting in the One who opened it for us. And here at GeorgiaFolkandFarmLife.com, we’ve got a full week ahead. Our own Wade Peebles will start sharing his “Good Morning Friends” right here, and we’re only a few days away from the Georgia Folk and Farm Life Gathering & Story Revival on September 13th in Garfield. If you’ve got a story in your heart, or know someone who does, reach out to Wade or me—we’d love to add you to the list. And if you can pick a banjo, strum a guitar, or sing one of those old songs, we’d sure love to have you too.

Happy Sunday, friends. May God bless each and every one of you this week. P.S. - You can register for our email list down below so you never miss a moment!

~Matt Jolley