I would certainly classify this as one of those that are REALLY IMPORTANT!
Because it is one of those important sermons, I have asked the Lord all week to help me to preach it in a way that would be pleasing to him.
Illus: There was a preacher that was shaking hands with the members of his congregation after a service, when one man approached him and said:
• "That was a wonderful sermon today, pastor!"
• Filled with Christian modesty, the preacher replied, "Oh, you have to give all the credit to God."
• To which the reply came, "I wouldn’t say it was that good."
I know it would be much better if God delivered this sermon, but I am afraid you are stuck with me!
Life is full of comparisons.
Illus: Life can teach us many things if we are willing to learn.
• A 7 Year old said, “I've learned that our dog doesn't want to eat my broccoli either.”
• A 12 year old said, “I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again.”
• A 29 year old said, “I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there.”
• A 47 year old man said, “I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies.”
• A 51 year old man said, “I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”
• A 52 year old man said, “I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.”
• A 64 year old man said, “I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.”
• An 82 year old man said, “I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.”
• A 90 year old man said, “I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.”
We can learn many things as we travel down the road of life, but God’s Word clearly teaches us there are only TWO ROADS for us to travel.
Let’s look at these two verses that will teach us three things. We see -
I. THERE ARE TWO DIRECTIONS IN LIFE
Here we have Jesus, the preacher of preachers, finishing His longest recorded sermon, “The Sermon on the Mount” comparing life to many things. Notice, the comparisons. He says we have the choice:
• Either enter through the NARROW GATE or the WIDE GATE
• Either be a GOOD TREE or a BAD TREE
• Either be a TRUE DISCIPLE or be a FALSE DISCIPLE
• Either build your life on THE SOLID ROCK or THE SHIFTING SAND
There is no middle ground in any of these comparisons.
Life is full of comparisons. In the comparisons in these parables, He never says there is a Plan C!
Illus: A redneck from Pelion, S.C. and a Texan were driving through Arizona. As they drove down the highway, the man from South Carolina pointed out the sights.
• Pointing out the car window, the redneck from SC says, "Look, over there is a cattle ranch."
• "We have cattle ranches that are at least twice that size in Texas," claimed the Texan.
• They drove on for another hour, and the redneck from SC pointed out an area of cotton fields.
• "In Texas, we have cotton fields that are much bigger than that," noted the Texan.
• By this time, the redneck was starting to get annoyed. Not wanting to be outdone, he continued driving. An hour later, they reached northwestern Arizona
• The Texan looks out the window at the Grand Canyon and asks, "What is that?"
• The redneck, tired of all the bragging from the man from Texas, said, "Don't you have irrigation ditches in Texas?"
We know that as we travel on the highways, our destination is determined by the roads we take.
• If I want to go to Texas, there are certain roads I must take
• If I want to go to Florida, there are certain roads I must take
And listen, if I want to go to heaven, there is a certain road I MUST TAKE.
We live in a world today that seems to think our destination is not determine by the roads we take! To think like this is sheer foolishness in the physical realm, and it is just as foolish in the spiritual realm. Which road we choose to travel will determine our destination in eternity.
Illus: Larry King is noted to have Preachers on his television show, and one of the questions he always ask them is: “Can a person go to heaven without accepting Jesus as His Savior?”
Larry asked a young prominent preacher that question. “Can a person go to heaven without accepting Jesus as His Savior?”
In fear of offending his listeners, he tried to avoid the question by saying that he would rather not say, and he thought it might be best if He let the Lord do the judging on that matter. By ducking this question, he caused an uproar among Christians across this nation, since the Bible clearly teaches this is the only way a person can go to heaven. He did not have the courage to say what the Bible teaches.
Another preacher, Dr. Jerry Falwell, was asked that same question, and Dr. Falwell did not duck the question. He made it clear that Jesus is the only way a person can be saved.
Dr. Falwell is 100% correct! There are not many ways to heaven, there is only one way, and Christ Himself said, “I AM THE WAY!”
The lost world would have us believe it does not matter if you are a:
• Christian
• Muslim
• Buddhist
• Catholic
• Mormon
• Jehovah Witness
They say, ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO HEAVEN!
Some people might say, “Christians are narrow minded!” You better believe it! We are so narrow minded that we believe that the only way a person can go to heaven is to come through CHRIST!
Many in our day want to tell us that there are many paths a person can travel through life TO ENTER HEAVEN, however, Jesus limits the choices TO JUST ONE!
Let's spend a few moments discussing these two roads in which man can travel
A. THERE IS A BROAD WAY
The word broad means "spacious." What does He mean by a "broad road"?
The idea that Jesus is trying to convey is that MANY TRAVEL this way. On this road, anything goes!
• You can make as many turns or detours as you want to make
• You can travel down the fast lane
• You can violate all the road signs and drive as you please
That is what the broad way is all about!
You can choose this BROAD WAY to travel, but you need to understand that God’s Word says it leads to destruction
Illus: For example, some research was done on the Jukes family, that chose to travel the broad way. A total of 1,200 decedents have been traced from this prolific family tree.
• Some 400 were physically self-wrecked
• 310 were professional paupers
• 130 were convicted criminals
• 60 were perpetual thieves and pick pockets
• 7 were murders
• Out of the 1,200, only 20 ever learned a trade and 10 of these learned it while in prison
There are multitudes who are traveling on this broad way that leads to destruction. But the Bible also says -
B. THERE IS A NARROW WAY
A narrow road has only one lane, while a broad road has many.
Illus: To hear some preachers preach, gives the impression you can be a Christian and live the same way the lost world lives. You can not live like the world if you are born again.
Once we are saved, we do not live like we once lived. We have repented of our sins which means we have CHANGED OUR DIRECTION!
Look at Matthew 7:13, we read, “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:”
Look at the word “strait.” It has the same meaning as a strait jacket. That is, the Christian life has RESTRICTIONS.
Look at Matthew 7:14, we read, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Look at the word “narrow,” it has the idea of being constricted. You see, the narrow way is exactly the opposite of the broad way. On the narrow way, you cannot take all your sins with you. If you try, you will find that there isn't any room in your life for them.
Yes, we Christians have restrictions on our lives, but these restrictions are for our good.
Illus: Let me ask you something. Suppose two sets of parents are raising their children.
• One set of parents put no restrictions on their children, they just do as they please each day.
• One set of parents put restrictions on their children. They know there are lines that are drawn and they cannot cross them!
Which of these children have the most going for them? Of course, the children that have parents that love them enough to set some guidelines for them to follow.
Which road are you traveling, the BROAD ROAD or the NARROW ROAD? We see THERE ARE TWO DIRECTIONS IN LIFE, but also -
II. THERE ARE TWO DESTINATIONS IN LIFE
There used to be a saying about 2,000 years ago that went like this, "All roads lead to Rome." No matter what road you took, they all led to Rome. But this Bible does not teach us that all roads lead to Heaven.
B. THERE IS A PLACE CALLED HELL
Jesus tells us that the broad road leads to "DESTRUCTION." When we think of something being destroyed, we usually think about something being ANNIHILATED and forever done away with. This word, however, refers to "LOSS." It speaks of total and absolute ruin.
On television, we often see the devastation after a hurricane or tornado. We see homes torn up, cars smashed, etc.
This is what happens to a lost person who travels the BROAD WAY. We can see what SIN HAS DONE TO THEM. Every person who chooses the broad way will eventually find themselves in the fires of Hell.
Hell is terrible because the Bible says it is a place of:
• UNQUENCHABLE FIRE - In Mark 9:43, we read, “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.”
• MEMORY AND REMORSE - In Luke 16:25-28, we read, “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.”
• UNSATISFIED THIRST - In Luke 16:24-25, we read, “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
• ETERNAL SEPARATION – In Rev. 21:8, we read, “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.”
Regardless of what men think, Hell is real, Hell is hot, and Hell is everlasting!
B. THERE IS A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN
Just as the broad road has its destination, the narrow way does also.
The BROAD WAY has MANY TRAVELERS, but the NARROW WAY HAS FEW TRAVELERS. If you want to follow the crowd, you can not go to heaven because the majority is not going to go to heaven.
Hell is:
• A place of horror
• A place of Pain
• A place of Separation
• A place of Suffering
Heaven is a place of:
• Joy
• Rest
• Peace
• Unspeakable beauty and glory
Heaven is GLORIOUS!
• Think of a city without a cemetery — for they have no dying there.
• Think of a city without tears — for God shall wipe away all tears up yonder
• Think of a city without pain, a city without sorrow, without sickness, without death — for the former things are passed away.
• Think of a city without darkness — for the Lamb shall be the light thereof.
• Think of a city without temptation — for nothing that defiles shall ever enter Heaven.
• Think of a city where no hearses shall creep slowly with their sad burdens to the silent city of the dead.
• Think of a city without sickness or sorrow, marriages or mourning, births or burials, a city which glories in having Jesus as its King, angels as its guards, and whose citizens are saints.
We see that THERE ARE TWO DIRECTIONS IN LIFE, THERE ARE TWO DESTINATIONS IN LIFE, and -
III. THERE ARE TWO DECISIONS IN LIFE
As we read these verses, Jesus makes it clear that people must DECIDE which road they will travel. The BIGGEST DECISION you will make in this life, is where you are going to spend eternity. It is a decision that only you can make.
A. THERE IS A WIDE GATE TO CHOOSE
In reality, there is no real choice made in entering the wide gate. When a person is born into this world they are born in sin (broad way). Now we all know where that road will end up! Notice that Jesus said that this was the crowded way.
B. THERE IS A NARROW GATE TO CHOOSE
When God calls the sinner to come to Him for salvation, he must choose to look away from the allurements of the broad way and see that the narrow way offers life and hope, while the broad way offers only death, pain and destruction.
Conclusion:
The world makes it sound like everyone goes to heaven when they die. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES!
You can not have PEACE without the PRINCE OF PEACE!
Have you thought it over? There are only two ways and two decisions that we can make. As we sit in this auditorium:
• Some are headed down the broad way that leads to hell. You never know if it will be around the next curve or over the next hill that they will land there.
• Some are headed down the Narrow road, and you do not know the time you will go to be with the Lord in this wonderful place called heaven.
This passage of scripture teaches us:
I. THERE ARE TWO DIRECTIONS IN LIFE
II. THERE ARE TWO DESTINATIONS IN LIFE
III. THERE ARE TWO DECISIONS IN LIFE
