April 7, 2011 I Don't Know You! 4

"People will come from the East and West, and North and South and will take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of God." Good Thursday Morning and welcome to the VERY FIRST DAY OF, THE REST OF YOUR LIFE... How about let's spend some time with God right up front. Let's put the prayer first today. Dear Father in Heaven, Thank You for always having time for me, for us, and never turning your back on any of us. Help us to understand that Jesus loved and still loves us enough to have died for us, and our Father in Heaven Love Jesus enough to raise Him from the dead. And Lord, thanks for that same promise to us. Please, Lord, on this first day of the rest of our lives, forgive me, forgive us of our sins and help me, help us to repent in the name of Jesus. Lord, please bless our schools this day and also our families, and heal those today with cancer. In the name of Jesus, I pray... Amen. The big trip 16-4 I Don't Know You! 4: Luke 13:29 - "People will come from the East and West, and North and South and will take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of God." (NIV) What is God showing me about this scripture in the parable of the Narrow Door? He is telling me that people from all races, all colors, and all religions will get into heaven if they just know and confess Jesus as their Savior. It is also telling me that people from all races, all colors and all religions will NOT get into heaven if they do not know Jesus and have Him in their Hearts. John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV) I want you to notice in this scripture that it tells all people "I am the way". Jesus did not say, if you have all white hair and are really good looking like me, you will get into heaven (just kidding, folks). No, and all this reminds me of a song I learned back in Vacation Bible School, back around 1946 when I was about five... "Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the children of the world." And folks, if you love Jesus then you are one of His children. So when you get to heaven, expect to see God's people of all races, and if you have trouble with that, you better get over it in a hurry, for Jesus wants us to love all people, and He is very, serious about this. Folks, when we get to heaven, we will all be at the feet of Jesus, there will be no Chinatown or Italian Neighborhood, there will be no "colored section" as we white folks called those neighborhoods back when I was a child. And folks, there will be no section for all whites either. If you are in heaven, all that will not make a difference and if it would to you, then chances are you are going to have too much baggage to get through the Narrow Gate and more than likely, and I am not the judge, but more than likely Jesus will say, "I don't know you!" and send you and your baggage off to hell... Tossed into the lake of fire. Now go forth, sharing your blessings and making your plans to be with Jesus in Heaven someday, and if you get time, sometime please share those plans with me. I would just love to hear from you, because I love ya... Pastor Dan.