Destination (Part One)

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matt 7:1

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1–3 LBLA

1 Y el Señor dijo a Abram: Vete de tu tierra, de entre tus parientes y de la casa de tu padre, a la tierra que yo te mostraré. 2 Haré de ti una nación grande, y te bendeciré, y engrandeceré tu nombre, y serás bendición. 3 Bendeciré a los que te bendigan, y al que te maldiga, maldeciré. Y en ti serán benditas todas las familias de la tierra.

Matthew 7:13–14 LBLA

13 Entrad por la puerta estrecha, porque ancha es la puerta y amplia es la senda que lleva a la perdición, y muchos son los que entran por ella. 14 Porque estrecha es la puerta y angosta la senda que lleva a la vida, y pocos son los que la hallan.

Abraham begins his expedition—an adventure of a lifetime. It is a powerful analogy of our adventure called life.

This life I a talking about is more than just breathing.

It is more than going to school, working, retiring.

Then

The life I am talking about begins when we believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord. (His substitutionary death and glorious resurrection)

Real Life

Today I want to introduce to you a brand new series that I will be preaching—beginning in two weeks.

New Series:

Road Trip: Going in the Right Direction with God

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matthew 7:13–14 LBLA

13 Entrad por la puerta estrecha, porque ancha es la puerta y amplia es la senda que lleva a la perdición, y muchos son los que entran por ella. 14 Porque estrecha es la puerta y angosta la senda que lleva a la vida, y pocos son los que la hallan.

Narrow Gate

Way is hard: The way is difficult.

The Way is defined by God—revealed through His written Word and through Christ.

The Way is difficult—running contrary to the public or private narrative of the World.

Paul, who is nearing the end of his earthly life, gives perspective and counsel to Timothy and to us.

2 Timothy 4:6–8 ESV

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

2 Timothy

2 Timothy 4:

2 Timothy 4:6–8 LBLA

6 Porque yo ya estoy para ser derramado como una ofrenda de libación, y el tiempo de mi partida ha llegado. 7 He peleado la buena batalla, he terminado la carrera, he guardado la fe. 8 En el futuro me está reservada la corona de justicia que el Señor, el Juez justo, me entregará en aquel día; y no sólo a mí, sino también a todos los que aman su venida.

Destination: Crown of Righteousness (in Roman and Greek culture: the victor’s crown)

Completion - Fulfillment of God’s Purpose (Missio Dei)

Glorification - Wholeness

Emancipation - Set Free

What did Paul do to receive the victor’s crown.

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 LBLA

7 He peleado la buena batalla, he terminado la carrera, he guardado la fe.

Fought the good fight.

Paul affirms at the close of his life that he has engaged himself in the one event truly worthy of one’s life.

He completed the course God ordained for him.

He completed it by God’s grace.

1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

1 Corinthians 15:10 LBLA

10 Pero por la gracia de Dios soy lo que soy, y su gracia para conmigo no resultó vana; antes bien he trabajado mucho más que todos ellos, aunque no yo, sino la gracia de Dios en mí.

The Way of God is the Way of Grace.

Finished the Race.

Paul did not quit.

In this life, we will experience the pressure to compromise, to abandon the way of God.

Paul experienced suffering, mischaracterization, persecution, loneliness, and hardship.

2 Corinthians 4:7–9 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

2 Cor

2 Corinthians 4:7–9 LBLA

7 Pero tenemos este tesoro en vasos de barro, para que la extraordinaria grandeza del poder sea de Dios y no de nosotros. 8 Afligidos en todo, pero no agobiados; perplejos, pero no desesperados; 9 perseguidos, pero no abandonados; derribados, pero no destruidos;

Through it all, Paul stayed the course, AND HE FINISHED!

Through it all, Paul stayed the course, AND HE FINISHED!

Kept the Faith.

“Perhaps for many of us our fears about trusting God with our lives comes from our inability to trust people.” — Jerry Ireland, Missionary to Zambia

Past: Christ died for me.

Present: I live in Christ. (He shapes my values, my purpose, my actions, my attitude)

Future: Jesus is coming back

2 Tim 4:

2 Timothy 4:8 ESV

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:8 LBLA

8 En el futuro me está reservada la corona de justicia que el Señor, el Juez justo, me entregará en aquel día; y no sólo a mí, sino también a todos los que aman su venida.

This journey begins in trust, which invites God’s grace to transform our life, setting us free from the chains of sin, and giving us hope and a future.