5 - Check Your Bags

Packing for Eternity

SLIDE: Scripture Matthew 7:13

Matthew 7:13 NLT

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

SLIDE: Title

Introduction

Today we are going to examine what they we carrying around in our lives—material possessions, relationships, and values—and assess whether these things are hindering their ability to fully follow Christ and enter His Kingdom.

Imagine a traveler preparing for a long journey. They dutifully pack all the essentials, but as they load up their bags, they gradually add unnecessary items: trinkets, old clothes, and heavy books. Eventually, they find it hard to carry the weight and are unable to move forward. Similarly, in our spiritual lives, we must check our 'baggage.' Are we carrying the weight of sin, resentment, or distraction? It's crucial to lay down these burdens and prioritize our relationship with God, focusing on what truly matters.

To follow Christ fully requires us to check our spiritual baggage and prioritize our relationship with Him above all else; only then can we truly enter into the fullness of life He offers.

Christ is the ultimate answer to our pursuit of eternal life. His willingness to challenge us to consider the cost of discipleship, just as He offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, leading us to true fulfillment and eternal life empowers us to examine our baggage and then “check our bags” to travel with Him.

Main Teaching

SLIDE: Open your Bibles to Matthew 19:16-30

We’ll be looking at Matthew 19:16-30, please open you Bibles then to Matthew 19:16.

In these passages, Jesus encounters a rich young ruler seeking eternal life while teaching about the narrow gate that leads to life. He challenges both the ruler and His followers to evaluate their attachments and priorities in light of the Kingdom of God. Let’s take a deeper look then

1. Surrender Your Security

Matthew 19:16–22 NLT

16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “ ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” 21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

We see here how the rich young ruler approached Jesus with sincerity. Yet, he was challenged to let go of his wealth, which was his ultimate baggage. This passage reveals Jesus probing deeper into our hearts, urging us to question what we hold dear.

During a nature walk, I came across a tree with a thick vine wrapped tightly around its trunk. While trees are meant to be free, this one seemed held captive. It struck me that our hearts can sometimes be encumbered by attachments that constrict our growth. Discipleship invites us to examine those vines, to prune away what doesn’t serve us anymore, so we can stand tall and embrace the freedom Christ offers—like that tree waiting for the sunlight to shine through.

You see, the heart of discipleship involves examining our attachments and considering what might be holding us back from fully embracing Christ's call.

2. Trust in Transformation

Matthew 19:23–26 NLT

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Here Jesus poignantly states the difficulty for a rich man to enter heaven, akin to a camel passing through a needle's eye. This hyperbole emphasizes the radical nature of true commitment to God over material wealth.

I remember my first job after becoming a believer in Jesus; I was so excited to get my paycheck and buy everything my heart desired. So there I stood with a shiny new toy, only to realize it brought little joy after a few days. My excitement faded, and I was left longing for something more. That's when I began to understand that true commitment to God isn't about the shiny toys, but finding joy in His presence. It’s a wonderful realization, reminding us that fulfillment comes from eternal treasures, not temporary thrills!

A true followers of Christ we are challenged us to trust in God's power rather than our own capacity to let go of earthly riches to enter the kingdom, reminding us that with God, all things are possible.

3. Pursue Kingdom Priorities

Matthew 19:27–30 NLT

27 Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” 28 Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.

Peter's question about their reward focuses on and reflects a misunderstanding of sacrificial living in exchange for earthly security. Jesus reassures the disciples of abundant rewards but emphasizes the reversal of worldly values in the Kingdom.

A farmer works tirelessly through the seasons, planting seeds and nurturing the soil. Day after day, there’s no instant reward; the harvest seems far away. But deep in his heart, the farmer holds onto hope. He knows that the fruits of his labor will one day emerge, yielding a bountiful crop. Our journey of faith can feel similar—each prayer, each act of kindness may feel unnoticed, but God promises us an ultimate reward that far outweighs any temporary gain.

I encourage you to embrace sacrifice and service, expecting your ultimate reward in God’s presence rather than via immediate gratification. Here, our call is to align our values with Kingdom priorities.

Conclusion

4. Choose the Challenging Path

Matthew 7:13–14 NLT

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

These final verses illustrate Jesus' imagery of the narrow and wide gates.

Imagine standing at a crossroads, two roads stretching out before you: one looks wide and easy, adorned with pleasant distractions and comforts, while the other is narrow, rocky, and gives a sense of struggle. In our lives, we often face similar choices. Following Jesus and his teachings can feel difficult and less appealing compared to the broader temptations of the world. However, the narrow path leads to life, not mere existence. It's a path that truly fulfills us, urging us to choose wisely each day.

I want you to understand that the challenges of the narrow path that leads to life, require constant examination of what we carry —symbolically 'checking our bags.' This passage, and duty to honor God calls us to make conscious choices in alignment with Christ's way, forsaking easier paths for the sake of true life. This therefore encourages a reflective practice in daily life to assess these spiritual choices.

The key teaching is that true discipleship may require radical changes in our lives, including letting go of worldly attachments and choosing the narrow path of obedience and faithfulness to Christ.

In 1976 I had the privilege to be a part of a meeting with Francis Schaffer to discuss his book: “How Should We then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture”. In the book Francis criticizes various historical movements for the negative impact each had on humanity. His book and film series by the same name are often credited with inspiring the evangelical Christian resurgence that became prominent during the 1980s.

Essentially, Schaffer trigger the same emotions and thoughts from the phrase "What would Jesus do?", often abbreviated to WWJD, which became particularly popular in the United States in the early 1900s, following the 1896 novel In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? by Charles Sheldon. The phrase saw a resurgence in the 1980s and 1990s as a personal motto for Christians.

I encourage to regularly ask yourselves both of the questions I just mentioned:

How should I then live?

What would Jesus do?

And in so doing be fully prepared to “check your bags” and follow Jesus to the fullest extent you can: Regardless of the personal cost and as an act of worship towards the Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

To follow Christ fully requires us to check our spiritual baggage and prioritize our relationship with Him above all else; only then can we truly enter into the fullness of life He offers.

SLIDE: Prayer