WHICH ROAD TO CHOOSE? God ’ s Law of the Heart (9) Matthew 7:13-14 Penge Baptist Church 11th November 2012

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Jesus’ teaching demands a choice Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl….. Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men…. When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites…. When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do…. No one can serve two masters…..You cannot serve both God and Money

As did God in the Old Testament “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

Two different gates Enter through the narrow gate…small is the gate… – “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9) – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”(John 14:6) For wide is the gate… – “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3) – “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Two different roads …broad is the road… – The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (Luke 8:14) – People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. (2 Timothy 3:2-5) …and narrow the road… – “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)

Two different destinations …that leads to destruction…. – “thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12) – Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ (Matthew 25:41) ….that leads to life…. – “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10) – In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

Two different crowds …and many enter through it. – “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.” (Matthew 24:37-39) …and only a few find it. – Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. (Luke 13:23-24)

Who is this Jesus? For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10) “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Revelation 3:20-21)

The gate of heaven – our choice “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17) “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl….On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.” (Revelation 21:21,25) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

The prayer of choice! Lord Jesus Christ, I know that I have sinned and done things that have hurt you. I am willing to turn away from what is wrong in my life. I want to go where you lead in the future. Thank you for dying on the cross so that I might be forgiven. Come into my life this day; Come in as my Saviour and Lord: Come in to be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.