Oh the Places You'll Go
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Intro:
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Tonight as we prepare for the upcoming school year, the title of my message is, [Oh the Places You’ll Go].
Whether we loved it or hated it, everyone has gone to school at some point in their lives. I was one of the children that actually looked forward to school. I loved to learn then and I love it now.
There are many different types of school. There are public schools, private schools, charter schools, and home schools. After high school, some go to a junior college, others a university, many to tech school, and some enter the workforce, which provides on the job training.
When we get into our professions, some companies require continuing education, others even pay for their employees to obtain graduate degrees.
Regardless is our training or teaching has been formal or informal, somethings are not taught in the classroom. I have yet to have an educator tell me when its a good time to cut hay or how to work cattle.
Much of that is taught with real-world experience. All in all, learning is a part of life. And the purpose for education and learning more is so that we can get where we are trying to go.
learning is a part of life. And the purpose for education and learning more is so that we can get where we are trying to go.
In 1990, Dr. Suess wrote a book entitled, Oh the Places you’ll Go, allow me to read a few portions of the book:
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
If we can name our school or if it was the school of hard-knocks, we have all taken time to learn so we can get where we want to go.
I thought about this last month, and it hit me, this would be a good topic to discuss in our Back to School Service. Because the simple fact is this we are all going somewhere.
In our text, we see that the Lord lays out two paths for people. We have two options. Both paths lead to an eternal destination. One is good and one is bad. One brings life and one brings death.
As we prepare to go back to school, I realize education is vital. However, the wisest and most intelligent person can miss the real reason for life.
Tonight, I want us to see that there are two options for our future. Oh the places we will go. Where are we headed? We are in one of two categories: [The Place Called Hell] or [The Place Called Heaven].
Let’s begin
1. The Place Called Hell
1. The Place Called Hell
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Jesus does not hold back or hide the future of humanity. Prior to meeting Jesus, there is a place prepared for every person of the human race, that place is hell.
I know hell is not preached about much, and I wouldn’t have discussed it tonight unless I felt prompted to do it by the Lord.
The reason hell is a reality is because of sin. When God created mankind he prepared a paradise, but sin entered into the mix.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because of sin, hell became the future of humanity. Hell is a real place. It is a place of separation. It is a place where people cannot leave once they have entered.
Jesus gives a description of hell throughout the gospels:
42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Why do people end up in hell? Because of sin. When Satan led the rebellion against God before creation, God removed Satan from heaven, creating his eternal home in hell.
Satan’s main goal is take as many people to hell with him. He knows the consequences of sin. Therefore he tempts people, leading them into sin, so that they might be cursed to the lake of fire.
What type of people are in hell?
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
, “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” NLT
What people may not realize is the way we live here determines the places we will go. If we live in unrepentant sin, choosing to adopt a lifestyle of unbelief, then hell is in our future.
For God established that the wages or the penalties of our SIN is death. What is a sin? The best definition of SIN I have ever heard is, “A sin is ANYTHING Jesus wouldn’t do.”
If there is something or many things we do in our lives and we realize that Jesus would not do them, then we need God’s help. How do we know if we are sinning?
The Holy Spirit will bring conviction to us, showing us the wrong we have done. He convicts us because He does not want us to go the place of Hell.
If the Lord is speaking to us that something needs to change in our lives, its because He wants us to enter...
2. The Place Called Heaven
2. The Place Called Heaven
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus outlines two options for people. There is a wide way, it is the easy way, it is filled with temporary pleasures and short-lived joy. But that road leads to destruction.
However, there is a narrow way. When do we begin on the journey down this narrow way? When accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Knowing that hell was our home, God sent His Son to die in our place. Because of His death, we have a chance to avoid hell and spend an eternity with God, which starts in heaven.
What is heaven? It is the place where God dwells.
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
When we make the decision to follow Jesus we have a home in heaven. It is a place where we will dwell with God. It is a place of perfection. It is a place of peace. It is a place where there problems are non existent.
What will we do in heaven? God gave John a glimpse of heaven in:
God gave John a glimpse of heaven in:
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
Sitting in heaven is God, on His throne. Surrounding Him are angels and people worshipping Him. Thanking Him for His goodness.
Because God is in heaven, the problems we face on earth will be erased. Listen to what John said in:
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. 6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
When we get to heaven, it will be a place where sickness is eradicated. There will be no mourning or sadness. In heaven we will tabernacle with God, meaning we will dwell with Him face to face!
Every concern or care of today will be gone and it will be a place where we will see God face to face! I can promise this, we do NOT want to miss heaven!
How do we get to heaven? We have to accept the Lord as our Savior and we have to commit to LIVE for Him! We will live in the undiluted glory of the Lord.
Close:
There are two places awaiting us: the place called hell and the place called heaven!
As I prayed for this service, I could not get over this thought, OH THE PLACES YOU WILL GO! I realize it is exciting to talk about heaven and it is less thrilling to hear about hell.
But I would be doing you a disservice as your pastor if I did not tell you we will end up at one of those places. There is not an intermediate state for those who do not believe, there are only two choices: heaven or hell.
The way we go to heaven is to live for Jesus.
The way we go to hell is to reject Jesus.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament there are only two places we can go:
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” 14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Refvelation
Hear my heart, as exciting or dreadful the upcoming school year is, tonight is the time to make the decision that will really affect the places we go.
And I am not only speaking of eternity! I have noticed something about those who are headed for hell and those who are headed for heaven.
For those who are far from God, those who have yet to experience the goodness of God’s grace. Their lives are normally categorized by chaos, perpetual problems, and constant difficulties.
They often have to live with the consequences of living far from the Lord.
That is not to say that those who are going to heaven are free from problems. But what they do have is peace, joy, hope, help, and power that can only come from Jesus!
SO tonight, everyone of us is going somewhere. We can make the choice: I want to go to heaven! And until I get to heaven, I want heaven on earth!
Please, please, please, do not make the mistake of putting off living for Jesus. I can promise, a life without Jesus has temporary and eternal consequences.
I want us to pray that heaven will invade our lives, our church, and our futures as we make the decision, I want to go to the place called heaven!