The Narrow Gate, The Eternal Flame, and The Open Invitation
By Pastor Joel — Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
A Journey Through Gospel of Luke Chapters 13, 14, and 16 (KJV)
Jesus was journeying toward Jerusalem.
The road was not merely geographic—it was prophetic. Every step moved Him closer to the cross. As He passed through cities and villages teaching, someone pierced the air with a question that still echoes through generations:
“Lord, are there few that be saved?” (Luke 13:23, KJV)
It was not a casual curiosity. It was a question about eternity.
The Strait Gate – A Door Not Wide Enough for Pride and rebellion.
Instead of giving statistics, Jesus gave a command:
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24)
The word strive implies agony, struggle, intense effort. This is not passive religion. This is not cultural Christianity. This is not casual association with church activities.
The gate is strait—narrow, constricted. It does not accommodate:
Unrepented sin
Religious hypocrisy
Self-righteousness
Mere intellectual belief without surrender
Many will seek to enter—but seeking is not the same as submitting.
Jesus then paints a chilling picture:
The Master of the house rises and shuts the door.
Those outside knock:
“Lord, Lord, open unto us the door…”
But proximity, and knowing “about” Jesus is not true relationship with the Lord.
Jesus sys these words to those he does not personally know…
“I know you not whence ye are… depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” (Luke 13:27)
They had eaten in His presence. They had heard Him teach in their streets. They had exposure—but not transformation.
Then comes the irreversible reality:
“There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth…” (Luke 13:28)
They see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets in the kingdom of God—while they themselves are thrust out.
And here is the shock to religious pride:
“There are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.” (Luke 13:30)
Those who presumed salvation because of heritage, position, or familiarity with truth would find themselves outside. Meanwhile, people from the east, west, north, and south—unexpected souls—would sit down in the kingdom of God.
The gate is narrow.
And it will close one day.
The Flame That Does Not Negotiate – The Reality of Hell
If Luke 13 shows us the closed door, Luke 16 shows us what lies beyond the door.
Jesus tells of a rich man clothed in purple and fine linen. He lived comfortably, even extravagantly. Outside his gate lay Lazarus—poor, diseased, longing for crumbs with no one to help him but the dogs who licked his wounds.
Then death suddenly came to both the rich man and Laarus.
Lazarus was carried into Abraham’s bosom – To Heaven.
The rich man was buried.
And then Scripture says plainly:
“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments…” (Luke 16:23)
This is not metaphorical discomfort. This is conscious torment.
He sees.
He feels.
He speaks.
He thirsts.
He remembers.
He regrets.
He begs.
He is tormented and burns in hell with an unquencable fire.
“I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:24)
Notice the theological weight of this passage:
1. Hell is Conscious
He lifts up his eyes. He recognizes Abraham. He speaks rationally.
2. Hell is Torment
Flame. Thirst. Distress.
3. Hell is Fixed
“There is a great gulf fixed…” (Luke 16:26)
No crossing. No second chance. No postmortem repentance.
4. Hell Does Not Produce Repentance—Only Regrets
He does not ask to leave hell because he loves God.
He asks for relief.
Then he pleads for his brothers.
Abraham answers:
“They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” (Luke 16:29)
If they will not hear Scripture, they will not be persuaded—even if one rose from the dead.
That statement is prophetic. Because One did rise from the dead, — His name is JESUS.
And still many even today refuse to hear and believe the gospel message of salvation that Jesus came to offer. Many make excuses to follow and obey the word of God.
The Excuses That Sound Reasonable
Now consider Luke 14—the Parable of the Great Supper.
A certain man made a great supper and invited many.
At supper time, the servant announced:
“Come; for all things are now ready.” (Luke 14:17)
Salvation is prepared. The table is set. Grace is offered.
But listen to the responses that many gave:
“I have bought a piece of ground…”
“I have bought five yoke of oxen…”
“I have married a wife…”
None of these are sinful things.
Property.
Business.
Marriage.
Yet each becomes an excuse.
They were not hostile—they were distracted.
And distraction can damn just as surely as rebellion.
The master of the house becomes angry—not because they lacked opportunity, but because they despised it.
He sends the servant into the streets and lanes to bring in:
The poor
The maimed
The halt
The blind
Then further still—to the highways and hedges:
“Compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:23)
And then the sobering declaration:
“None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” (Luke 14:24)
The invitation rejected becomes a door closed.
One Continuous Story
Luke 13 shows the narrow gate.
Luke 16 shows the consequence of missing it.
Luke 14 shows the invitation still open while one is alive, but after this life there is no second chance to get to go to heaven.
The message is unified:
Not all will be saved.
Hell is real, conscious, and irreversible.
Excuses to follow the Lord are deadly.
The invitation still stands.
One may know and can quote Scripture.
One may attend a nice church with nice people.
One may have heard sermons their entire life.
But the question remains:
Have you entered the narrow gate that Jesus spoke about?
Have you repented of all your sins, or are you living in sin?
Have you surrendered to the Lord and His will spoken of in the word of God?
Jesus is not asking whether you have eaten in His presence. He is asking whether He knows you by association.
The Call to Repentance
The rich man in hell wished someone would warn his brothers.
The door has not yet shut.
The supper table still has room.
The narrow gate is still open.
Repent—turn from sin.
Believe the Gospel.
Submit to Christ not as acquaintance, but as Lord.
Because one day the Master of the house will rise.
And when Jesus shuts the door—No one will open it again.
