Two Ways

 

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

 

Theme: the wrong way or God’s way

 

Introduction: Most of us realize that life is full of choices. Some of them we like making some of them we don’t. At times we even try to avoid making decisions on certain subjects or topics. Most of the time making a decision isn’t too difficult if we look at the information available and use our common sense. However if we start trying to justify a wrong decision by convincing ourselves we do something later on to make things all right, we end up in a bad situation and living with the consequences. In our scripture Jesus talks about making a decision, this decision illustrates eternal life. He gives us some good advice and then presents the choices. Well before this service is over you will be asked to make a decision. This decision will be about your eternal destiny, you will be ask to make a choice regarding where you will spend eternity. Look with me as I preach to you choosing the wrong way or God’s way.

 

I. The direction Jesus gives (v.13)

 

    A. Jesus is specific with his opening statement. This is

         What I would call the alter call for the sermon on

          The mount. Its decision time for the multitudes.

         1. We must enter it, He only provides the opportunity.

         2. We are given the freedom of a choice, e.g. two

              thieves.

 

    B. Jesus stands at the door and knocks

         1. Notice the door in the picture, no outside entry.

 

II. Your first choice; speaking of opportunity (v.13)

 

    A. The wide gate and the Broad way

         1. Bring all your baggage with you e.g. desires,

             belongings, lusts and appetites.

         2. Live the way you wish to live.

             a. There is nothing to hold you back.

             b. There’s plenty of room to live your life.

         3. There are many paths and choices. (on the broad

              way)

              These paths and choices tell us we don’t need

               Jesus to get to heaven, there are other ways to

               Have eternal life (its not eternal life its death).

              (I want to take some time and focus on three)

             a. Works; preach eternal life isn’t by works,

             Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

               Today’s movements-New Age, Islam, one God for

               Everyone to access their way, Good works- The

               More people I help, money I give, time I give,

               Or charities I’m associated with the better off

               I am.

               b. No Opinion; Atheist or Agnostic people, those

               who don’t confess to believing in any deity? Those

               who just don’t care about eternity they live for the

               present. Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart,                

               [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have

               done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth  

             good.

               c. Unclear; Those who have heard so much that

             they just don’t believe anything anymore. Those

             who just don’t understand who Jesus is, or don’t

             admit who he is.

 

          4. There is lots of company

             a. Following the crowd is going the wrong

             way. Is there anyone alive today, that’s worth

             following to Hell, simply because they will

             not follow you to Heaven?

 

  B. The Wide and Broad lead to destruction

       Not just death but the second death, eternal death.

       Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake                            

       Of fire. This is the second death.

       Luk 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall

       all likewise perish.

 

III. Your second choice, Choosing Jesus (v.14)

 

      A. The strait gate is:

          1. Conversion- a new birth (Joh 3:3)  Jesus answered

                and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

               Except a man be born again, he cannot see the

                kingdom of God.

          2. difficult- there must be a new heart and spirit,

              old things gone. We must swim against the stream,

             Change the way we are living and live anew.

          3. Humbling- We must become as children, denying

              ourselves and putting off the world.

            (Eph 4:22-23)  That ye put off concerning the

              former conversation the old man, which is

             corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be

             renewed in renewed in the spirit of your mind;

         4. Open to all- It’s not going to be forever. One day

              the opportunity to know Jesus will be over

              (Mat 25:10)  And while they went to buy, the

             bridegroom came; and they that were ready went

             in with to the marriage: and the door was shut.

 

     B. The narrow way

         1. Just as Israel wasn’t in cannan when they crossed

             the Red Sea we wont be in Heaven when we go

             through the strait gate. We have a desert to cross,

             the narrow way.

         2. The narrow way isn’t an easy way

              a. living for Jesus- controlling our emotions,

              avoiding corruption, resisting temptation, we

              must strive to live out the teachings of

              our Savior and making him our Lord.

              b. accepting tribulation-as we fail and falter

              we will learn patience Romans 12:12 tell us

              tribulation brings patience. When we fail, we

              have the same Jesus that saved us to help us if

              we once again ask.

 

     C.  Few that find it.

          1. Its available to all but few choose it. Some feel

           they have plenty of time, others for some reason

           just don’t care, still others don’t acknowledge the    

           need. You should realize that you are not promised

           Tomorrow. I’m not trying to scare you or intimidate

            You, only present Jesus to you honestly. Today you

            Have the opportunity to be in that number that finds

            Jesus.

 

     D.  For those who choose it

          1. It leads to life. Jesus said he came that we may

           have life and have it more abduntly. Even though

           the gate is strait and the way narrow and sometimes

           uphill, when we get to Heaven it will be worth it all.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion: Let me ask you a question, would any one of you willingly walk to your death just because it was a pleasant and comfortable walk? How many of you would trade your life for the use of one million dollars for a day, a week, a month or maybe a year? Well that is exactly what you are doing by rejecting Christ; you see your trading your eternal life for a short period of comfort and the use of not the ownership of worldly fortune.  How many of you would walk to a mansion even if the road were a little difficult and maybe uncomfortable? Well that’s exactly what you choose when you accept Christ; His promise of heaven and all that’s there belongs to each believer. Life, death, right decisions and wrong decisions have been set before you and the evidence fairly stated. In a minute I will ask you to make a decision, only you and God know where you stand. Have you walked through the wide gate and are you traveling down the broad road? Well you have the opportunity to turn around, you see the bible uses a word that means turn, that word is repent. That is what God is asking you to do, repent and turn from who you are right now which is a person with unconfessed sin, and turn to Jesus Christ. Jesus is standing at the strait gate waiting for you to come in. Will you come?