Were your eyes glued to the TV this past week as you watched events unfold in Afghanistan? If you were like me there was a range of emotions from anger to sadness. Beside the sadness of 13 of our military losing their lives; was learning that just before the last planes left, many Americans had made their way to the gate only to find that no one would open the gate and let them in. They were left outside. We still don’t know the fate of them.

There’s another gate I want to mention today. Many will go through it; many more won’t. That gate (or door) is the entrance into heaven. Scripture says:

“…strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there are that find it.” Matt 7:14

Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…” John 10:9

Belief in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world, who shed his blood on the cross for all our sins, is the only way to enter through that gate.

Acts 4:12 says,

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Jesus stands with arms open wide, beckoning a lost world to come to Him before it’s too late; before that gate (door) is shut. And it WILL shut!

If you are familiar with the man named Noah, who built the ark, you know for 120 years in the building of that ark, the people had opportunity to believe and be saved. But then came the day; all animals inside, along with Noah and his family; and God shut the door. (Gen. 7:16) Because of their sins, judgment on the people followed, as the rain began; the fountains of the great deep broke up, and the windows of heaven were opened for 40 days and 40 nights (Gen. 7:11,12).

We don’t know the day or the hour of the coming of the Lord, but we are told,

“As the days of Noah were before the flood, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” (See Matt. 24:36,37).

One would have to be blind not to recognize the evil and wickedness all around our communities, our country, our world. We don’t like to think about it; but yes, judgment IS coming! Because of sin.

But there’s hope for you still. That gate is still presently open. Won’t you come? Come before it’s slammed shut! And you’ve been left standing outside – TOO LATE!