CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
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· 31 viewsA sermon examing which path you will choose and where each path leads
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CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:
A Columbia researcher, Sheena Lyengar has found that the average person makes about 70 decisions every day. That’s 25,500 decisions a year. Over 70 years, that’s 1,788,500 decisions.
Of those almost 1.8 million choices, one stands out all above others. There’s one decision that you will make that has eternal consequences.
The choice that I speak of is …how will you respond to Jesus Christ? You will either confess Him or deny Him. You will either trust Him as Lord or turn away from Him. You will either accept Him or reject Him.
You must decide whether you believe “The Way, The Truth, and the Life.” () or if you will attempt to make it to Heaven some other way.
I can assure you based upon the Word of God…There is no other way!
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 16:25
Many people are trying to get to Heaven based upon their good works.
Ephesians 2:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph
Many others are trying to get to Heaven because of their religion.
John 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.
Some think that because they simply “believe” in Jesus Christ that they will be saved.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James
Others base their eternal destiny on the fact they are members of some church.
Revelation
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
There are some who think that because they have been baptized that they do not have to fear Hell-fire.
Revelation
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
There are multitudes of people today who are filled with self righteousness.
They are good, moral, kind and charitable individuals.
According to man’s standards they are good people
According to God’s standards none are righteous apart from Jesus Christ.
Keep in mind…God does not look at actions.
He looks at your heart!
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But the Lord pondereth the hearts.
In our selected text Jesus covers the fact that there are two paths for man to choose from.
There is a Path of Destruction
There is a Path of Deliverance
Each person here is on one of these two paths.
Each person has a choice to make.
I would like to closely examine these different paths and examine, “The Choice Of A Lifetime.”
As Jesus brings “The Sermon On The Mount” to a close, He reveals this “Choice of a Lifetime.”
The strait gate and the narrow path or wide gate and the broad path.
Many times in life we have more than 2 options to choose from. But eternity is not a multiple choice proposition. In fact salvation is the most black and white subject in the Bible.
You are either saved or lost, you are either a believer or an unbeliever…you are either on your way to Heaven or you are on your way to Hell.
If you find yourself on the path that leads to destruction, I hope that you will see that you have an opportunity to take another path, whether; you like it or not.
You will make a choice before you leave here today. When there is a choice to make and you attempt to avoid choosing, that in itself is a choice.
As we examine this choice of a Lifetime let me ask you...
I. Will You Choose The Path Of Destruction?
I. Will You Choose The Path Of Destruction?
Jesus makes it clear that the broad path leads to destruction.
He also reveals the fact that many people go through this gate.
Let’s examine a few things about this path.
A. The Path of Destruction Is An Effortless Path.
A. The Path of Destruction Is An Effortless Path.
Matthew
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
There were two different types of roads for the Jewish people. There were public roads that were approximately 16 cubits wide (24 ft wide). Then there were the private roads that were somewhere around 4 cubits wide (6 ft wide).
The broad path or “the path of destruction” is a path that is easy to navigate. This is a wide road with plenty of room.
It takes zero effort to enter the WIDE GATE that Jesus speaks of.
In fact we came into this world on that Board Road.
Romans
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
It take no effort to live like you want to.
It takes no effort to follow the lust of the flesh,.
It takes no effort to enjoy the pleasures of the world.
It takes no effort to sin, because sin is natural for us.
It has rightly been said that, “We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners.”
The path of destruction is a effortless path.
What is waiting at the end is tragic.
Consider it.
B. The Path of Destruction is a Dangerous Path
B. The Path of Destruction is a Dangerous Path
Matthew
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
The danger of this path is evident by it’s name… Destruction.
Every path leads to somewhere.
The “wide gate and the broad gate” leads to destruction.
This destruction speaks of death
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This path does not just lead to physical death.
It leads to the “Second Death”
Eternal separation from God into everlasting Lake of Fire.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ.
You are on a very dangerous path.
I implore you to get off the pot, while there is still time!
This path is effortless and dangerous and if you are this path…you are not alone!
C. The Path of Destruction is a Crowed Path.
C. The Path of Destruction is a Crowed Path.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew
Jesus says, that many would enter the wide gate.
Many will travel the broad path.
There are many people out-there on this path, because it is very broad.
You can do whatever you choose to do on the path of destruction.
You can be a vile wretched sinner.
You can live a good moral life.
You can be a heathen.
You can be religious.
The broad path is traveled by;
Drunks
Drug Addicts,
Pimps
Prositutes
Homosexuals
Adulterers
Rapists
Murderers
I must tell you that this road is also traveled by;
Preachers
Priest
Youth Ministers
Deacons
Elders
Missionaries
Sunday School Teachers
Song Directors
Church Members
There are tons of religious people who have entered the wide gate and are traveling the broad path.
Atheist
Agnostic
Buddhist
Muslims
Mormons
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jews
Catholics
Church of God
Church of Christ
Yes there are many Baptist as well on the path of destruction.
There are members of this church who are on this path.
There are some in this building today who are on this path.
There are many who go to church to;
Pray.
Read their Bible.
witness to others who are on this path.
Any person not suffering has not surrendered to Jesus Christ,
Born again.
Washed in the precious blood of Lamb.
Remain on the path to destruction.
As I mentioned earlier… you will make a choice today.
You will choose to turn to Jesus Christ.
You will choose to stay on this broad path of destruction.
I am glad to report that there is another path. As we continue to the second question, I would like to ask is:
II. Will You Choose The Path of Deliverance?
II. Will You Choose The Path of Deliverance?
Jesus offers a better path
A path that leads to life.
In fact a path that leads to eternal life.
The good news is that you have an opportunity to change the path you are on.
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
A. There is an Invitation for you to Enter The Strait Gate.
A. There is an Invitation for you to Enter The Strait Gate.
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
This is more than a description of a gate.
.
This is a plea from Jesus to enter in at this gate.
This gate is none other than Jesus Christ Himself!
He is the only means of entering into eternal life.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
The strait gate leads to the narrow path.
John 10:7-
The only way to get on this path is Jesus Christ!
Contrary to what many teach in other churches.
There are not many roads to Heaven.
God has only one way to heaven and that’s through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
You must leave your pride behind.
You must leave your self righteousness behind.
You must leave your sins behind.
I an not implying that those who are on the narrow path have reached sinless perfection.
I am not saying that you have to clean yourself up before coming to Jesus Christ.
In fact it is just the opposite.
I am pleading with you to come to Jesus as you are and let Him clean you up!
You must simply repent of your sins.
Make an intentional break from your current ways of life.
Trust, Believe, and Accept Jesus Christ as your saviour.
ccept Jesus Christ as your saviour.
Will you Fail?
Absolutely
Will you sin?
Unfortunately
But sin will no longer be your way of life.
When you enter into the strait gate.
You will have an intense desire to;
Walk with Him
Follow Him
Please Him
Serve Him
Worship him
Be like Him
The invitation is open for you to enter the strait gate.
To travel the narrow path.
B. The Incentive for you to Travel the Narrow Path.
B. The Incentive for you to Travel the Narrow Path.
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Just as the path of destruction leads to death.
The path of deliverance leads to life!
Eternal life doesn’t begin when we get to Heaven.
Our eternal life begins the moment we are born again.
This amazing life is available for you to live here and now.
This path that leads to life
It leads to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
You may not have anyone you can turn to in this life
But you can find a friend that sticks to you closer then a brother.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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.
John 14:1
John 14
This promise is for those who know Jesus Christ.
It’s only for those who have been born again.
It’s only for those who enter in at the strait gate.
It’s only for those who travel the narrow path.
Does That Describe You?
If that’s not you.
Then your traveling the broad path of destruction.
Right this minute your going to have to make the Choice of a Life Time.
You can remain on the path of destruction.
Continue towards Hell.
You can continue towards a destination that leads to the;
Second Death.
Final Judgement
Everlasting Torment
Unquenchable Fire
Unsatisfied Thirst
Unbearable Pain
Eternal Separation from God.
You can choose “The path of Deliverance”
Enter in at the “Strait Gate”
Be assured of eternal life and a home in Heaven.
Heaven is a place of;
Heaven is a place of;
Joy
Rest
Peace
Unspeakable Joy
Glory
It’s a place with no more;
Tears
Sorrows
Death
Pain
It’s a place with;
Walls of Jasper
Streets of Gold
Gates of Pearl
Crystal River
Heaven is a place of;
Reunion with our love ones who died in Christ.
Where we will spend eternity with;
The Father
The Son
The Holy Ghost
These are just a few things we know about.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Corinthians 2
I don’t know about you, but I know which path sounds better to me!
I am glad to know that I have entered into the strait gate.
Maybe you like to do the same.
Here’s how to do it!
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10
Doing this,
Turning to Jesus is without a doubt the greatest choice you could ever make.
This is truly the Choice of a Lifetime