First To Last

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company, and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ 

And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:22-30)

There is a story of a woman who had been used to every luxury and to all respect. She died, and when she arrived in heaven, an angel was sent to bring her to her house.  They passed many a lovely mansion, and the woman thought that each one, as they came to it, must be the one allotted to her.  

When they had passed through the main streets, they came to the outskirts where the houses were much smaller. And on the very fringe they came to a house that was little more than a hut.  “That is your house,” said the conducting angel.  “What!?” shouted the woman. “That! I cannot live in that!”  “I am sorry,” said the angel, “but that is all we could build for you with the materials you sent up.”

In a way, the angel told the woman, “I do not know where you are from. Depart to the fringe.”  Let us “evildoers” always remember that in the Kingdom of God “some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” 

Deacon David Pierce