Matt. 7:13-14
Intro: I would like to
share an observation with you that I have made over the years. Now, this is
profound, so hang onto your hats: Where you wind up depends on which road you
take! In other words, you cannot go south from here and expect to go to New York
City. You cannot go east from here and wind up at the Mississippi. I realize
you could do this if you were to circumnavigate the globe, but using the roads
which are in place now, it would be absolutely impossible for you to do that.
Just as this is true in the physical realm, it is also true in the spiritual
realm.
Where you wind up in
eternity will be determined by the road you take here on earth. It is
impossible to take the wrong road and go to Heaven, and it is impossible to
take the Heavenly road and go to Hell. What you do while in this world will
determine forever, where you spend your forever.
This life has been
described as nothing more than a brief pause between two very long eternities.
Now, that shouldn't take any of us by surprise. After all, we are surrounded by
death from the day we are born into the world. Loved ones pass away, friends
leave this world, and deep inside, we know that it will happen to us someday as
well. The fact that you will not live forever is a common theme throughout the
Bible. Notice some of these notable passages, James 4:14; Job 9:25; Job 14:1;
Psa. 78:39; Psa. 90:10; Isa. 40:7-8.
Since we are going to
leave this world someday soon, and when we do, we will continue to live either
in Heaven or Hell forever, it is essential that you know where you will end up.
I would like to take these 2 verses and preach for a while around this
question, "Where will you end up?" As I do, please allow the Lord to
speak to your heart. You may not like this message, but you need to know where
you are going when you leave this world more than anything else in this world
or the one to come. My prayer is that every individual will be able to answer
this question before they leave this room today.
I. THERE ARE TWO
POSSIBLE DIRECTIONS IN LIFE
(Ill. Jesus tells His
audience that there are only two possible roads in which one can walk. Many in
our day want to tell us that there are many paths a person can travel through
life, however, Jesus limits the choices to just two. Some may feel that this is
a narrow view. I guess that they are correct. However, Jesus is correct
regardless of what the world thinks, Rom. 3:4. Let's spend a few moments
discussing these two roads in which man can spend his days.)
A. There Is A
Broad Way - The word broad means "spacious." Jesus says that
there is a spacious road upon which a person can walk. What does He mean by
this "broad road"? The idea that Jesus is trying to convey is that
the broad way is wide open. In other words, anything goes on the broad way. You
can do anything you like, you can carry all the baggage of your sins, you can
live like you want to live, you can call all the shot and make all the rules!
You can be king of the road on the broad way. When you walk the broad way, you
can be your own person and not have to answer to anyone. You can live life to
the fullest. Go where you will, do what you will and be what you will. It is
your life and you call the shots. It is an easy way to live, because there is
no one to please but yourself! That is what the broad way is all about!
(Ill. There is a
sinister side to the dark way that the open-minded, pleasure seekers fail to
mention to those who travel this road. There are a couple of things you need to
know before you decide to live out the rest of your life traveling the broad
way.
1. You aren't really
in control - Eph. 2:1-3 (You are nothing more than a pawn of the devil,
Ill. John 8:44)
2. Sin brings with it
pain and sorrow - Gal. 6:7; Pro. 13:15 (Il. The Jukes family - There has
been careful research in to the history of one criminal family known as Jukes,
and it is conspicuous for a long line of pauperism, waste, imbecility,
insanity, prostitution and drunkenness. A total of 1,200 decedents have been
traced from this prolific family tree. Some 400 were physically self-wrecked,
310 were professional paupers, 130 were convicted criminals, 60 were perpetual
thieves and pick pockets, and 7 were murders. Out of the 1,200, only 20 ever
learned a trade and 10 of these learned it while in prison! Sin carries a high
price tag!)
3. God offers a
better alternative - (Ill. God has a plan whereby those who follow Him
enjoy the fullest of God's rich blessings day by day. Things like peace,
John 14:27; Phil. 4:6; joy, 1 Pet. 1:8; assurance of salvation, 1
John 5:13. There are multitudes of other things which the Lord gives to us, and
you'll never find a single one of the while traveling the broad road!)
B. There Is A
Narrow Way - While the Broad way is wide open and easy, the other way a
person can live is called "narrow". This word refers to a "grape
press". It has the idea of being constricted, it can also carry the idea
of being distressed and difficult. You see, the narrow way is exactly the
opposite of the broad way. On the narrow way, you cannot take all your sins
with you. If you try, you will find that there isn't enough room for you and
them. When you walk the narrow way, you must choose to give up your rights. You
can no longer do as you please, but you must do those things that please the
Lord. You cannot make the rules, but you are expected to keep the Lord's rules.
(Ill. Some people have
the mistaken idea that they can live as they please and that the Lord is
obligated to smile down on them and just bless them real good. In truth, when
you walk the narrow way, you should expect some difficulty. After all, these
fleshly bodies will resist the confines of the narrow way. The sinful natures
will find the narrow way to tight and constrictive. How many say they are
saved, and yet they try to walk in the broad way nonetheless? No one ever said
that living for the Lord would be easy! No one ever said that living a
separated Christian life that honors the Lord would be simple and as fun as
living a life that gratifies the flesh. However, living for the Lord brings
with it certain benefits that cannot be obtained by any other means. Notice
some facts about living the narrow way.
1. It honors God
- 1 Pet. 1:16
2. It brings His
blessings and power into your life - 2 Chron.. 7:14.
3. It offers a far
better life from every perspective - Heb. 11:25; Gal. 6:8-9.
Nobody ever said that it
was easy, but it the only way to honor the Lord and to be His Disciple - Matt.
16:24; Luke 14:26-27. It's a life lived in surrender, devotion, dedication and
obedience to God. It is a life that He will bless! Sounds tough, but it's worth
it!)
Which road are you walking on this morning?
I. There Are Two Possible Directions In Life
II. THERE ARE TWO
POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS IN ETERNITY
(Ill. All roads end
somewhere. There used to be a saying about 2,000 years ago that went, "All
roads lead to Rome." Well, all roads lead somewhere and the same is true
with the roads we are considering this morning. They lead somewhere and since
everyone here is on one or the other, we need to find out where we are going!)
A. There Is A
Place Called Hell - Jesus tells us here that the broad road leads to
"destruction." When we think of something being destroyed, we usually
think about something be annihilated and forever done away with. This word,
however, refers to "loss". It speaks of total and absolute ruin. In
all honesty, it refers to loss one suffers in the fires of Hell. My friends,
the broad road ends in Hell. Every person who chooses the broad way will
eventually find themselves in the fires of Hell. That, to me, is the most awful
thought my mind ever tried to understand. What makes it so terrible is that
some of you are headed there right now! Allow me to give you a little insight
into this place where the broad way ends.
1. Unquenchable
fire - Mark 9:43; Luke 16:24
2. Memory and
Remorse - Luke 16:25; 27-28
3. Unsatisfied
Thirst - Luke 16:24-25
4. Frustration and
Anger - Luke 13:28; Matt. 24:51
5. Unspeakable
Pain and Misery - Luke 16:24-26; Rev. 14:10-11
6. Eternal
Separation - Rev. 21:8; 2 Thes. 1:9
7. Undiluted Wrath
- Rev. 20:15 (Ill. There will be no more mercy or respite. Hell will be
eternally real and eternally awful.)
(Ill. Regardless of what
men think, Hell is real and every second lost souls drop off into the searing
heat of that horrible place. No matter how I tried, I could never adequately
describe Hell, but if I were to be able to exhaust all the vocabulary of
English and paint word pictures that conveyed the truth of that place the half
would be told as to the horror that awaits everyone headed to the land of the
damned. A place from which there will never be deliverance. A place to which
you will surely go if you choose to follow the broad and easy road through
life. Where will you end up?)
B. There Is A
Place Called Heaven - Just as the broad road has its destination, the
narrow way does too. This road doesn't end in Hell, but it ends in Heaven
above. Jesus promised those who would follow this way life. Not just life down
here, but everlasting, glorious life in the realms of light above this wicked,
perishing world. If Hell is a place of horror, pain, separation and suffering,
then Heaven is a place of joy, rest, peace, unspeakable beauty and glory.
Everything that Hell isn't Heaven is! Just a brief glimpse at the glories of
that city tell me that that's where I want to end up. Consider these truths
about that splendid place.
1. No Tears, pain,
sorrow, death, etc - Rev. 21:4
2. No Sin
- Rev. 21:8
3. No Night
- Rev. 21:25
4. No Curse
- Rev. 22:3
5. With God and
Jesus - Rev. 21:3; 22-23; 22:4
6. A Glorious City
- Rev. 21:11-24
7. Glories beyond
description and beyond the ability of man to comprehend and understand
- 1 Cor. 2:9.
(Ill. The narrow road
may be the more costly of the 2 down here, but the end of the road is worth the
price for the child of God. So what if we walked a bit out of step down here?
So what if we were misunderstood? So what if we did without some things that
the rest of the world indulged in and seemed to enjoy? When we get to Heaven,
the trials of the road will seem as nothing! The past will be behind us and all
the glories of eternity with Jesus will be unfolding before us. The journey
will be over and we will be home - John 14:1-3. Where are you going to end up?)
I. There Are Two
Possible Directions In Life
II. There Are Two
Possible Destinations In Eternity
III. THERE ARE TWO
POSSIBLE DECISIONS YOU CAN MAKE
(As we read these
verses, Jesus makes it clear that man must choose which gate he goes through
and what kind of life he lives. If man makes these decisions, then he also
decides where he spends his eternity. My friends, just as there are only 2
possible directions and 2 possible destinations, there are also only 2 possible
decisions you can make. Let's consider these before we take our leave from this
place today.)
A. There Is A Wide
Gate Which You Can Choose To Enter - In reality, there is no real
choice made in entering the wide gate. When a person is born into this world
they are born in sin, Rom. 3:23; Psa. 58:3. As a result, they are already on the
broad road. Yet, that little baby knows nothing of sin or of the choice to
follow sin. However, as that child grows, there comes a time when he knows
right from wrong. We call this time reaching "the age of
accountability." At that time the child makes a conscious decision to
either do evil or to do good. When that decision is made, the wide gate has
been entered and the broad way becomes the course of life. Now we all know
where that road will end up!
(Ill. Notice that Jesus
said that this was the crowded way. Many, many more will find their way onto
the broad road than onto the narrow way. Many, many more will spend in eternity
in Hell than will ever be in Heaven. That is a sad thing! But, what's really
sad about the whole thing is that men have many chances throughout their lives
to change roads. They ignore these opportunities and plunge headlong toward
Hell with reckless abandon and without visible concern for their souls! Please
do not let this happen in your life. You have the opportunity to change today,
take advantage of it and come to Jesus for salvation!)
B. There Is A
Narrow Gate Which You Can Choose To Enter - While the wide gate is easy
to find, man is born staring right into it, the straight gate is something that
must be sought out. What I mean in this, when God calls the sinner to come to
Him for salvation, he must choose to look away from the allurements of the
broad way and see that the narrow way offers life and hope while the broad way
offers only death, pain and destruction.
(Please note that this
narrow way offers some clear opportunities for those people who decide to
enter.
1. It is an open
gate - Rom. 10:13; Rev. 22:17; John 6:37.
2. It offers life
to all who will come in- John 10:28; John 6:47.
3. It, alone,
promises Heaven to those who come this way - John 14:6.)
4. It is a small
gate - This reminds us that you cannot bring your junk with you. If you
are going to come to Jesus for salvation, then you are going to have to be
willing to turn your back on the sins and the junk of this world, Luke 13:3.
You are fooling no one but yourself if you think you can hang onto the world
with one hand and Jesus with the other. The only way into Him is a narrow way
and it requires that we lay down everything and cling simply to Jesus and Him
alone!
("Nothing in
my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling!" What are you
holding on to today that is keeping you away from the Lord Jesus Christ? Let me
tell you, whatever it is, it isn't worth the price you will have to pay to keep
it! Throw it down and cast yourself on Jesus for salvation!)
(Ill. Notice that Jesus
said that there would be few who found this gate. Man is not, as I said
earlier, at a crossroads. He is walking the broad way, until he turns his eyes
away from that way and places them on Jesus. Then and then alone does man have
the opportunity to be saved. Perhaps few will be saved because few are looking
for what God offers through Jesus. Perhaps they are so filled up with the world
and their own ways that they have no time for what God offers them. May I
remind you that when a man is left to his own way, he will always wind up in
Hell? - Pro. 16:25)
Conc: Have you thought
it over? Where will you end up when you leave this world? Will it be Heaven or
will it be Hell? Will it be the narrow way of walking with God or the broad way
of anything goes? Where will you end up? You say, "Preacher, I sure do
want to go to Heaven!" Then come to Jesus and enter into salvation through
faith in Him. Be saved today. Be sure today. You had better not wait. As we
learned at the outset, life is short and eternity is long. Today is your day to
get ready to meet God in Heaven. Will you do it? Will you come and get it
nailed down forever? The gate is still open, but the day is coming when it will
close for you forever. Where will you end up? It all depends on what you do
with the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you come to Him and get it settled forever
today?
By Pastor Al Carr
Pastor Rolando Ramos
No comments:
Post a Comment