How Is Riding A Bicycle Like Being A Christian?

HOW IS RIDING A BICYCLE LIKE BEING A CHRISTIAN?

Wth a show of hands how many of you have ever ridden a bicycle? Many people say if you have ever been on a bicycle and have mastered breaking either on the pedals, or the grips on the handlebars, or the old Barnie Ruble way just sticking your feet down which I have done numerous times. You have mastered pedaling, steering, getting on and off with you and the bicycle going down. They say you never will forget how to ride a bicycle. As for me when I was much younger at the age of 10 year old Christmas morning I received my first bicycle. It was red in color with a small amount of white pinstripe with a headight on the front fender. The bike most likely was picked up by Santa Clause at the Western Auto. That morning I was so happy my own bike, I had been taught on a girls 26 inches bike as my cousin taught me how to ride, believe me it wasn’t pretty. But back to Christmas morning I rolled my new bike out most likely around 5:30 in the morning to ride it to my Aunt and Uncle house which was right passed my grandmother house. Did I mention the big white oak that was four feet from the edge of the pig pen. This was the path we traveled daily to ride the bus to school, I had walked this same path it seemed thousands of times not deviating from the route I took each day. I never had any trouble with this route until that Christmas morning. As I left that early Christmas morning to ride to my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins house I cut the light on to guide me to my destination. As I rode the thoughts enter my mind my very own bicycle, as I pedaled faster I could see the shining metal from the glow of my front light. The faster I pedaled as I went through my Grandmother back yard passing the smoke house the faster I pedaled. I could see the pig pen and the large white oak coming into view. My objective was to spilt the distance between the pig pen and the tree the faster I pedaled. With all the excitement to this point I had forgotten the root that ran at a 90 degree angle from the white oak running directly toward the pig pen. My front tire hit the root and propled my self and my new red Western Flyer into the tree. I escaped with just a few scratches however my bike was not damaged except the front fender and the headlight that was all scratched, and dented up. The accident was completely my fault it wasn’t caused by a deer running in my path, or I was talking or texting on my cell phone no it was caused by not paying attention to what I was doing. Since I have started my bicycle riding again it seems I still have accidents but as my Daddy use to tell get back up you sometimes will fail but don’t let that stop you from trying. Well Pastor what that got to do with the message today? Please turn in your bibles to Matthew 7:13-14 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.

Let Pray:

Many people sometime in their life have probably thought “Why did God make salvation such a narrow path?” The passage in Matthew 7:13-14 and Luke 13:23-24 causes some to question the goodness of God. After all, if He really want to save everyone, why didn’t He make it easier to be saved? Why doesn’t He just let everyone into heaven?

I. THE STRAIGHT GATE

A. Jesus said enter into the straight gate

B. Keeping our eyes focused on Jesus

C. Looking ahead having our mind, body, and soul to the one who will give us life

D. That Christmas Morning the Gate was not straight the white oak and the corner of the pig pen were off set causing to enter baring to the right.

E. Jesus tells us even though the gate is straight and wide

F. If the opening between the Oak and the pig pen had been wider I possibly would not have wrecked

G. But the bible tells us straight is the gate for wide is the gate and broad

is the way that leadeth to destruction .

H. Is this possible where people have come up with the idea of many ways to God