Considered Worthy

Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.  But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

Luke 20:34-36

These verses come in the middle of a chapter where the religious leaders are questioning Jesus’ authority and trying to trap Him in what He says.  Jesus was able to ‘see through their duplicity’ (vs. 23).  Answering the Sadducees who were skeptical of the resurrection, Jesus said that those who are ‘considered worthy’ will be part of that age.  The feeling I get from Jesus’ words is that most won’t.  Most people in this age will not be in that age.  Those who are considered worthy will be the minority.  This is very different than the pervasive thought that most all people will find their way to Heaven.  Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

How does a person find that small gate?  How do we walk on the narrow path?  How can I be ‘considered worthy’ of the age to come?  The answer is found in the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Father, thank You that Jesus has made me worthy, by Your grace.  Help me to stay on this narrow road everyday.  I live for You and Your glory.