The Strait Gate

Intro: Life is Full of Choices

We make many choices as we go about our lives - some are of relatively trivial importance, while other longer term decisions may impact the course of our life.

1. the first type (daily): what to have for dinner, which movie to watch
2. of the latter type: where to go to college and what to major in, what job to take, where to live.

The choices we make in our lives really reflect our individualism - and sometimes show our system of values. For example, the choices we make about how we spend our time reflects the priorities that we have in our life.

Today's lesson will focus upon our most significant decision of all - whether or not we will choose to submit our lives to God. The outline for this study will be as follows:

1. The Bible: A Guideline for Our Choices
2. Accountability for Our Choices
3. The Importance of Choosing to Serve God: An Eternal Decision

If We Want to Choose God, What is Our Guide?

Let's start with some incorrect authorities that some will use to guide the decisions in their lives:

The Heart/Sincerity. Some would assert that they "feel they are saved" or that sincerity in our religion is all that matters. However, in other aspects of life (e.g., a medical diagnosis or a question on a school test), we understand that sincerity is not enough. We need to be right. Jesus said "you will know the truth and the truth will make you free" (Jo 8.32). Sincerity in our spiritual life is necessary, but not sufficient as a standard.

Human Wisdom. Isaiah wrote "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Is 55.8-9) Human wisdom is limited because it is, well, human. God's ways as revealed in His word are perfect and unchanging.

Majority opinion. We learn in the Book of Matthew (Mt 7.13-14) that "few" will find the narrow way. This indicates that majority opinion does not rule the day with regard to spiritual truth.

As we look to serve God, His word is the one and only standard for choices in our lives. In the OT, Jeremiah exhorted Judah with these words (Jer 6.16): "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls." We see that scripture (the ancient paths) is just as applicable to those in Judah in the 5th Century B.C. as it was in the days of Moses and Joshua when the law was first given.

Some would suggest today that NT scripture is an outdated guide intended only for the 1st Century Christian, and would suggest a "new hermeneutic" for modern times. From the principle of Jeremiah, we learn that the applicability of Scripture is timeless - that God is able to make known his will across generations.

2 Tim 3.16-17. "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." The Bible claims itself to be inspired (God-breathed). Changes in society and technological innovations are ongoing every day. Yet, as our Creator, God is able to make known His will in such a way that men and women of every age can understand His word, and abide in it.

Accountability - Choices Have Consequences

As mentioned earlier, our lives are full of decisions that we make on a daily basis. After we make a decision, we may benefit from the results of that decision or we may suffer consequences. This is the concept of accountability.

It seems to me that a lack of accountability for one's actions is an escalating problem in our society. As an example, we have criminals in our society who claim not to be accountable for their actions because of their upbringing, or peer pressure, or some other reason. Such reasons are used as excuses to do whatever one pleases without consequence.

In contrast, the mature individual accepts the responsibility for their actions and the effects - this is the fundamental nature of proper accountability. It's not always easy - we may be sorry for what we've done, but there still may be physical consequences that result.

This idea of accountability is especially true in the spiritual arena. A couple of illustrations from scripture will exhibit individual accountability for choices that were made:

A clear example of accountability occurs in the Garden of Eden. God had commanded: "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die." Gen 3.1-6. In chapter 3, we see that Eve was tempted by the serpent (Satan)'s false preaching. Satan cast doubt in Eve's mind about the law God had given. She believed it, and sinned (i.e.-transgressed God's command). Adam did likewise when offered the fruit by Eve. God learned of their sin, and Adam and Eve were banished from the garden as punishment. They lost access to the tree of life and were separated from God.

Adam and Eve were overcome by temptation and made a poor choice. They lost their special relationship with God, and with the loss of access to the tree of life, they began to age and eventually would suffer physical death.

Lev 10.1-2. Nadab and Abihu represent a second example of individual accountability for a poor choice. For offering "strange" fire (one that God had not authorized in the Law) they were slain before the Lord. The importance of understanding God's requirements and not going beyond them is made clear by their example.

On the other hand, there are many cases of individuals who chose to follow God's commands and received blessings:

• Noah (built the ark exactly to God's specifications, and when the floods came, he and his family were secure).
• Naaman (commander of the army of Aram) in 2 Kings 5 (when he finally dipped 7 times in the Jordan, he received the blessing of being cleansed of leprosy).
• Joshua and the Israelites (circled Jericho once per day for 6 days, and then 7 times on day 7, when the trumpets sounded and they gave a great shout, the walls of Jericho fell down).

Throughout scripture, we see that those who obey God are commended and receive blessing, while the disobedient receive punishment.

In his letter to the Romans (Rom 14.10b-12), Paul writes: For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God. Accountability in the promised day of judgment should make us all wary and watchful in our choices.

Choices in the Spiritual Realm: A Decision for Eternity

From Bible history, we see that man was made with decision making capability regarding whether or not he would serve God. God did not make us as robots, programmed and predestined to serve Him mechanically. Rather, He made us in His likeness and image (Gen 1.26) with freedom of choice.

In the Old Testament, we see exhortations of the Israelites to serve God willingly. The importance of the choice before them was strongly emphasized.

Deut 30.19-20. Shortly before his death, Moses laid out a stark choice between life and death that the Israelites would make by how they spend their lives. Through obedience to the law, they could seize hold of life. In OT times, their obedience or lack thereof resulted in both spiritual and physical consequences (unlike today).

Josh 24.14-15. Similarly, Joshua challenged the Israelites, who had just taken hold of the promised land, to decide to continue serving God rather than the gods of the surrounding peoples. Again, this choice would be demonstrated by their service and obedience.

Under the new covenant of Christ, we see again that the individual Christian must make a choice regarding submission in one's life. Although there will not be physical retribution right away as sometimes occurred in OT times, this decision ultimately has eternal consequences.

Mt 6.24. Jesus gives us an admonition that we must be on one side or the other- either we are on God's side or the world's. There is no middle ground. A conscious choice must be made to serve God, or else we are choosing to serve Satan.

(Rom 12.2). Paul writes: "And do not be conformed to this world...".We make the choice to serve God by offering ourselves as a living sacrifice - submitting our will to that of God. We are not to conform to the standards and practices of the world, but rather to put our treasures in heaven and exhibit lives that are righteous and set apart from the world's influence.

Rom 6.16,22-23. Paul points out again that there is no middle road- we are servants either of God, or of the world. If we choose to serve sin, the consequences are spiritual death - separation from God for all eternity. If we choose to serve God - through faithful obedience - we can have eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Mt 7.13-14. Jesus symbolically represents the individual's decision as a choice between two gates.

Most will choose to enter by the wide gate - this is the easy and well traveled road where there is no resistance from Satan. This way leads to eternal destruction - not an annihilation or unconscious existence, but an eternal separation from God and punishment without end. The narrow gate or the strait (narrow channel connecting two bodies of water) chosen by the "few" may not be as appealing in some ways - it requires more effort (Christianity is not for "wimps"). Following this path will not always be easy. However, the faithful Christian on this path will be rewarded with life - he or she will spend eternity with God in heaven.

Concluding Remarks

Today, we remain accountable to God's word - specifically NT scripture (the Old Law was done away at the cross, Col. 2:14). Though almost 2000 years have passed since the new covenant came into being, it is just as relevant and powerful today in 2004. To make proper choices in our life, we need to grow in the faith and knowledge of God's word, and commit our lives to His service.

What kind of choices do we make which are indicative of our spiritual commitment (our choice to serve the Lord)?

• Whether to become a Christian, and make the initial commitment to serve God.
• Whether to attend regularly all services of the church.
• Whether to participate in fellowship and outreach events of the church.
• Whether to get involved in the work- see what we can do for the church.
• Whether to live as a "light unto the world"- that others will know we are Christians by the way we live our lives - on Mon-Sat, not just on Sun.

Going back to Mt 7.13-14, we see that the individual is faced with two, and only two gates. We will be held accountable for our choice, and there are only two:

One can choose to submit to God, becoming a Christian and remaining faithful unto death and thereby receive the crown of life (Rev 2.10). This narrow way takes effort, determination, and courage, and one may stand apart from friends and family. But, when this life is over, taking the narrow way "will make all the difference".

Or, by default, one will go through life by the wide gate - the one that is traveled by the many. This is the easy road, the road that is popular and of least resistance. Many believe there is a middle road. However, Jesus gives no indication of a third path in Matthew 7. Further, in Matthew 25.31-46, in an illustration of the judgment, individuals are either on the right or the left (not in the middle). Those who fail to enter the strait gate - even if they are sincere or a "good person" - will suffer eternal condemnation, just as the one who willfully disbelieves.

The Bible paints a terrifying picture for the lost. Luke 16.19-31 in particular paints a vivid picture of the torments of the Hadean world for those on the wide path.

If you are not yet a Christian you are on the wrong path. As the wide way, it may be more traveled and an easy road, but it is a dead end path - leading to condemnation. You need to consider whether you are willing to make a new choice and commit yourself to Christ, by Believing in Him, Repenting of Sins in Your life, Confessing your belief before men, and being Baptized in water for the remission of sin. By doing so, you may start a new life on that narrow path which leads to life eternal.

If you're already a Christian, perhaps you started along that narrow path, but your choices have not always reflected a commitment to Christ. The Bible teaches of the possibility of backsliding/apostasy, so we need to keep growing and maturing in our faith, or we can stray from the narrow path.