Eternal Choices

Happy Sunday! Thank you so much for choosing to join me today. Life is filled with choices, isn't it? Our options seem endless. As we continue our remodeling project here at the house, I thought about all the choices that had to be made.

Jeie took me several times to a store called Floor and Decor. It's about the size of a Walmart, and it's filled with tile. So many choices. You know, ultimately it really doesn't matter what we choose; there will not be any Eternal consequences with that choice.

All of us make decisions that don't really matter in the long run, but there are a few that really matter. Today Jesus talks about the most important choice we will ever make. As The Sermon on the Mount is coming to a close, Jesus asks the crowd to make up their minds on a choice that leads to Eternal consequences, life and death really.

Today we look at Matthew 7:13 and 14. Jesus said, "enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it." If you are a Christian, you should thank God for those that put you on the right path.

Jesus is clear: there is a choice to be made. The results are heaven or hell. Those gathered listening to Jesus that day long ago had been warned before. The Old Testament is filled with this language, and Deuteronomy 30: 19 and 20, Moses puts it this way: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him, for that means life to you."

The book of Psalms begins this way: "happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that Sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers, but their Delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. And all they do, they Prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the Judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, for the Lord Watches Over The Way of the righteous, but the Way of the Wicked Will perish."

You know, the world we live in doesn't pay a lot of attention to the Old Testament. One well-known Pastor largely encouraged his congregation to, well, just forget about it. Sadly, many choose to ignore much of the New Testament as well. I don't know how they do it, but I know why.

People want the easy way. People want a religion that makes them feel good. People want a religion that doesn't expect too much. People want to do as they please and still get to heaven.

I think these words from judges 21:25 describe much of our world today: "all the people did what was right in their own eyes." Back to the words of Jesus: "enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Christianity is the choice that I have made, and because of my faith I am, as I am asked to do things that aren't always easy, easy. I'm asked to love others, to forgive, to love my enemies even. I'm asked to give, to pray, to put others first, to turn the other cheek, to hold my thoughts captive, to keep my word, to live a righteous life. You get the picture; the list I gave is just partial.

On the Narrow Path There Are Rules; there are Great Expectations. On the wide path there are no rules, there are no expectations. If it feels good, do it. All things are tolerated and all things are permitted, and this path is celebrated on the news and in the movies and on TV and in this world.

The narrow path is mocked and poked fun at by this world. When we stand up for our faith and live according to God's word, the world will laugh and accuse us of being intolerant and even bigoted. The wide path is easy.

Years ago a man named Asaf was on the Narrow Path, and he wondered if he made the wrong choice. He saw that the wicked were prospering and the righteous were suffering, and he was confused. We read about his story in Psalm 73, and verses 3-5 Asaf tells us, "I was envious of the Arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and Sleek. They're not in trouble as others; they're not plagued like other people."

Asaf is wondering, how can this be? And he continues in verses 12 to 14: "such are the wicked, always at ease; they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and wash my hands in innocence, for all day long I have been plagued, and I am punished every morning."

In verses 16 and 17 asav looks to God. He says, "but when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a weome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God, and then I perceived their end." Asaf saw that the wide path led to destruction. Jesus said that in verse 13 of Matthew 7: "for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it."

We need to know that there is a choice to be made: two gates, two crowds, two destinations. I love the words of Joshua when he said about the choice, "as for me in my house, we will serve the Lord." God bless you for watching. God bless you for being on the right path. Bring others along.

Pray with me. Lord God, I thank you for my parents who taught me, and the teachers and pastors and preachers and youth work ERS that influenced me then, and their lives are still influencing me today. Help our lives to bring others to the right path. Help us to examine ourselves and make sure we're where you want us to be. In Jesus name, amen.

God bless. Thanks for joining me today.