Imagine being faced with a choice. Take that one thing in
life that you love immensely, that one thing that you believe you cannot live
without. What is it? On the lighter side, it could be your favorite television
show or video game, an article of clothing, a good luck charm. Could it be a
passion, or talent? Your love for the
outdoors, your skill in playing sports, a job, money? Let’s probe even deeper,
perhaps it’s friendship or the love of family? A specific perspective or
mentality? Your battle with pride?
Now imagine having to lose that possession because Jesus has
demanded that very thing from you. As a Christian, could you survive? Would
your life fall apart? Would you shun God, be angry at him? Would you be able to
let go, deny yourself?
This past Sunday, Pastor John reminded us that there are no
competitors with Jesus. So often we fail to realize that our relationship with
him should not be one of double mindedness. It is truly “all or nothing” with
him.
“I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s
laws.” Matthew 7:23
How frightening those words are to hear for
those of us who think we are pursuing
Jesus. Pastor John warns us from what he
deems “superficial believism,” in
other words, belief in God that remains merely a simple belief. It is a belief
that does not drastically and completely change our heart, actions, and
priorities. In essence, it is a belief that allows us to “have it all.” In
contrast to this type of believing, is a “deep believism” which leads us to
follow an often hard path to God’s kingdom where danger, suffering and trials prevail.
Does the pathway you’ve chosen actually lead to life? Are we aware that the decisions we make each
day while we’re alive indeed are eternal choices between life and death?
Pastor John reads from Matthew 7:13-20.
Verses 13 &14 talk about the path to the Kingdom of God
being narrow and difficult to progress through. It is a path alive with temptation and hard
decisions. It will involve forgoing things you enjoy and love. But the reward
at the end is greater than the loss we face at the beginning.
The broad path leads to destruction. Pastor John tells us
that this path is broad because rightfully so, everything can fit through it
and anything goes on this path. Here you can eat your cake and have it. This
path offers you everything. Here the self is glorified, excuses reign supreme,
and anything and everything is justified.
The path to God demands that we “pick up our cross” (Matthew
16:24). As Pastor John explains, the cross in Jesus’ day meant the death
penalty. In other words, we must die to ourselves and our life on earth and
deny ourselves. This may involve saying no to some of the things that we greatly
desire in order to follow the life that Jesus lovingly claims that we live.
This type of life desires what God desires, and glorifies what God glorifies.
It is a life where repentance and faith draws us closer to Jesus.
Ultimately we must decide what path we desire to be on, and
what path we are actually on, and make those individual changes to get us
walking down the right path.
Post adapted from Willingdon Church sermon June 17, 2012 www.willingdon.org
Post adapted from Willingdon Church sermon June 17, 2012 www.willingdon.org
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