What¡¦s your Destination?
Mt 25:46 = Mt 7:13-14 = Lk 13:23-24
Introduction
Some time ago, a man was attempting to trace his family roots. In the process of his research he visited several cemetaries collecting information from the markers. At one place he came across a monument with the following inscription:
Pause now stranger, as you pass by
As you are now, so once was I
As I am now, so soon you¡¦ll be
Prepare yourself to follow me
Next to the marker he noticed someone had placed a board with the following words:
To Follow you, I¡¦m not content
Until I know, which way you went.
The engraving on the tombstone was a reminder of our common mortality. If the Lord tarries his return ¡V we shall all face death in time. The bible often speaks of all flesh being death and the grave. (life is short/death is sure). The grave awaits us all. The person who wrote the second poem, however points out that though we all will one day die ¡V we will pass on to one of two places.
Where would you spend eternity? Heaven or Hell? Paradise or Perdition? The Haven of Rest or the Lake of Fire? When your body dies ¡V your soul shall live on the question is where? Do you know? Do you care? Have you made preparation for your final destination?
1. Two Destinies (the only two) Mt 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
A.God sees only Two Kinds of People
The Righteous The Wicked
The Saved The Lost
Heavenbound Hell-bound
„Ã The Bible tells us over and over again that everyone of you here today will either go to
„à Heaven or hell. Sad many ignore or deny this truth. Some suppress it because they don¡¦t want to deal with it. Young people across America delay and postpone thinking about it to their soul¡¦s damnation.
„Ã God tells us Two Destination
„à The language of the KJV is very clear and unmistakeable ¡§Shall¡¨ go away. Not maybe, might, should, could, ought to, or possibly. But shall. In Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
„à The Lord Himself say¡¦s ¡§Go Away¡¨ we will go somewhere! (for the wicked = banished, punished, and exiled) & (for the righteous = accepted, welcomed, and embraced) into his presence surrounded by joy and peace, contentment, and blessing. There is only tow eternal destinies: Everlasting punishment for those who reject Christ and eternal life for those who trust Him.
Dan 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. (NKJ)
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
„Ã There is no evidence from Scripture that God predestines people to go to Hell. If sinners listen to Satan, and follow his ways they will end up where he ends up in the torment of hell.
John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
2. The Two Roads
"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matt 7:13-14
If you want to know where you will spend eternity ¡V you need to start by finding out what road your traveling.
Two Roads diverged in a wood, and I took The One Less Traveled,and that has made all the difference (Robert Frost)
„à If you are not a Christian yet, you got to believed that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If you are a Christian you have to decide to take the next step of following Christ, that¡¦s discipleship.
„à Often people asked me, what does it take to get to heaven? Join the church? Be baptized? Give money? Pray? Be religious? No! You¡¦ve got to enter the right gate and walk on the right road. Someone once said ¡§Turn right and go straight.¡¨
Prov 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Probably you¡¦re next question is ¡§what does it take. Let me give you four things.
A. You must Discern between truth and error ¡V the bible tells us that before a person will ever get on the right road one has to see that the present road that they are walking leads to destruction.
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Consider carefully your fate. Reason in your heart and mind about it. Take it seriously.
B. You must Dare to be Different ¡V verse 13 ¡§many¡¨ verse 14 ¡§few¡¨ One reason why some will not be saved ¡Vthey loved this present world. They don¡¦t want to be different. They go with the crowd. They ridicule the idea of being different (being an individual). They don¡¦t want to lose their so called friends.
Mark 8:35-38 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 "Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
Heb 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
C. You must Make a definite Decision ¡V to enter the straight & narrow. Good intentions aren¡¦t enough. I thought about it or I meant to will not excuse you on judgement day.
Illustration Matthew 25:31-46
„L Verse 34 ¡V Blessings to the righteous = verse 35-40 the work of the righteous.
„L Verse 41 ¡V Judgement of the righteous = verse 42-46 the work of the unrighteous
„Ã The Rich young ruler in Matthew 18:16-22 tried to enter carrying a luggage of sin. Stood before the gate with his luggage of sin ¡V his love of money. The Lord told him to give it all to the poor (v21), but this rich young ruler went away sorrowful (v22). Jesus is telling him agree with me that I am the way and the way you are living is the wrong way, confess that you are living that are opposed tom my way, and say sorry that your sin cost me great suffering and pain.
Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
You must be Determine ¡V this road less traveled is straight and narrow. It is not easy ¡V nor is it popular. It takes work and determination to live life the right way.
Matthew 24:9-13 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. [10] At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, [11] and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. [12] Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, [13] but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Conclusion:
Let me conclude with this: In Luke 13:23-24 Jesus was asked ¡§How many would make it to heaven, just a few¡¨ Jesus answers them by saying, I am gonna read it in the Message translation.
A bystander said, Master, will only a few be saved? He said whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life to God is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you¡¦ll sit down to God¡¦s salvation banquet just because you¡¦ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you¡¦re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you¡¦ll find the door locked and the Master saying, Sorry you¡¦re not on my guess list.
„v The door is open now Soon it will be too late - strive to enter agonizomai (ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee); to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize
In the days of Noah (Genesis 6) The Lord say that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Noah, God¡¦s faithful servant for 120 years proclaimed God¡¦s message of judgement, which will soon be unleashed on the people of that time because of their sin and unbelief.
Genesis 7:10 the rains came the ark was sealed, in desperation people seek, beg, cried, but it was too late. Luke 13:24 many will seek to enter and will not be able to. Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Jesus is inviting you to come.
