Strangers to Grace

““You’ll protest, ‘But we’ve known you all our lives!’ only to be interrupted with his abrupt, ‘Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don’t know the first thing about me.’ “That’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom.” (Luke 13:26–28, The Message)

Christ's response to the question: Master, will only a few be saved?

He doesn't answer their question (leaving it for theogians to argue about until literally the kingdom comes), as usual Christ redirects their question in an unexpected and uncomfortable way.  The ones who asked and who certainly expected that they would be saved were challenged.  "Don't assume you are getting into the kingdom, Christ says.  There will be many who do assume this and they will not get in.  Even though they say they know God, they do not know God. 

At first glance these are chilling words.  One asks the question, "Am I such a person?"  As I think about it, however, I see the compassion and grace in these words.  Christ does not speak in such a way to scare his listeners, to give them sleepless nights, and fearful days.  He says this so they will pay close attention to their lives, so that they don't find themselves strangers to grace.

You should not be offended by a person who carefully explains safety equipment and its use when you  go mountain climbing, even when experienced.  The guide is concerned for your safety, so he doesn't assume anything.

Christ is calling even those who follow him not to complacently assume that they are in because he does not want them to be strangers to grace.

Will we listen to him?