Your Destiny--Your Decision!

We trust in many things--money, possessions, families, jobs, power, position, church, synagogue or mosque, and our spiritual leaders to name a few.  We trust in our senses-- what we can see, touch, smell, taste and hear; but Satan can deceive us through these means, just as he tried to entice Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4).  However, each of us should live by this guiding principle: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight," Proverbs 3:5-6.

If you have already trusted in Yeshua--Jesus, never give up.  We have countless examples of saints who through the centuries kept the faith (Hebrews 11), even when it wasn't easy.  Stand firm with confidence in Jesus and in the Word of God.  If Satan and false teachers attempt to deceive you disguised as angels of light and coming in the name of Jesus, compare their words to the Word of God (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Matthew 24:4-5).  If you have grown distant from the Lord, return to Him right now and ask His forgiveness.  Difficult days are ahead, and now is the time to renew your relationship with Christ.  In these last days, we may have to work out our salvation even in the midst of much fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

If you do not know Yeshua as your Savior, the Bible says there is no other name under heaven given to man whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).  Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).  Do not put off your decision.  How can we escape if we neglect so great salvation (Hebrews 2:3)?   

May I encourage you to invite Jesus into your life. God sent His Son two thousand years ago into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world through Him (John 3:17). He died on the cross as a penalty for your sin, shedding His blood, that you might call upon Christ to save you from your iniquity and from eternal destruction and separation from God.

Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Paul continues (10:9-10), "That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

THE NARROW GATE: Commitment and Obedience

While Jesus walked this earth in ministry, large masses of people came to see and follow Him.  Some were curious of the miracles He performed.  Some were hungry, many wanted healing, and some religious leaders attempted to find fault in Him.  Only a few wanted a personal relationship with Jesus. One day Jesus took a large group of His followers up to the mount to teach them (Matthew 5-7).  Instead of laying a path of ease and comfort before them, He instead spoke hard and uncomfortable words, but He told the truth.

He clarified that to be His disciple you must be patient while enduring persecution (Matthew 5:3-12); be a source of light and good works (5:13-16); be a keeper of the Ten Commandments (5:17-22, 27-28 Romans 2:13; Romans 7:7-14); be a forgiver of those who offend you (5:23-26); be sacrificial, even of your own self (5:29-30); be a person who keeps his commitments (5:31-32); be a communicator of truth (5:33-37); be willing to turn the other cheek (5:38-42); be a lover of your enemies (5:43-48); be a intimate partner with God, fasting and praying in secret (6:1-18); be a treasure seeker of eternal things, not worldly (6:19-23); be a servant of God, not of money, trusting in God for all your needs (6:24-34); be true to yourself and your faults, not judging others (7:1-5); be a protector of things that are holy (7:6); and be an asker of God, expecting results, and a doer of good deeds (7:7-12).  

However, while Scripture does teach a reward according to our works (Matthew 16:27) it does not teach salvation by works (Ephesians 2:8-10). We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone. We are not saved by faith plus works but by a faith that works. God always gives his gifts without hesitation, and justifies none that He does not then proceed to sanctify. He does not call the leper clean and leave him to die of his disease. We do not have to be good to be saved, but we do have to be saved to be good. Nonetheless, the enduring rewards in the Kingdom of God are determined by our works of faith.

Jesus continued "enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it," Matthew 7:13-14.  In other words, Jesus wants a love commitment from you and me; a life of obedience.  The broad gate says that you can add Jesus onto your life as a convenience and as an addition to the carnal and disobedient man or woman you have been.  This is the wrong attitude.

A large crowd can pass through a broad gate all at once. The gate you must enter through is narrow so that only one can pass through at a time.  You have to leave behind your possessions, stripped down to the bare soul, to enter through this gate.  The broad gate is easy to pass through, but it leads to the narrow end of death and destruction.  However, the narrow gate--although harder to enter, will lead to a broad road of life and happiness in God's kingdom.

In the sermon on the mount Jesus continued with this warning, "beware of false prophets" who come dressed in friendly clothing saying that you can live an evil life and still enter God's kingdom (Matthew 7:15-20).  Their own fruit will expose them.  Jesus said a righteous person brings forth righteous fruit, year after year, not sinful fruit.  Yes, there will be times in our lives of spiritual draught and blasts of winter cold, but once again the fruit appears--the fruit of righteousness in Christ.  The righteous fruit comes not from working hard, but from staying connected to the source of life, day in and day out.  Rooted in Christ, the good fruit of will come forth bountiful unto harvest.  As Paul stated, we are a new creation and old things pass away, and all things become new in our lives (2 Corinthians 5:17).  This transformation takes a lifetime, but is possible as we remain connected to the Man of miracles--Christ.

The Scriptures do not teach, "once saved always saved," but rather, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved," (Matthew 24:13).  Truth and error lie very close. The Bible does not teach a yo-yo religion, constantly in and out of salvation. On the contrary, looking to Jesus, even if regularly from our knees in the state of failure, means we are accepted of Him. We are "complete in Him," "accepted in the beloved." Justification is by faith alone at every moment, not just at the beginning of the Christian pilgrimage.  Jesus remains our substitute in the last great day and not merely on the cross or when we commence the Christian walk.

Jesus ends His sermon with fearful words of caution, especially for anyone who claims to know Him as Savior: "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven," Matthew 7:21.  Many will claim in the day of judgment that they prophesied in Christ's name, cast out devils in Christ's name and did many wonderful works in Christ's name; but Jesus will respond plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (7:23).  These individuals were Christian in name only, not in action; righteousness did not follow their claim for they wanted a Savior for the final judgment, but not a MASTER for their daily lives.

Jesus doesn't offer Himself as an addition to your sin, but as a Savior from your sin.  Jesus clearly stated His intent in changing your life, and expecting repentance and a changed attitude towards Him if salvation in your desire.  Christ expects you to be a "living sacrifice," Romans 12:1-2.

If it is your desire to follow Christ with your whole heart from this day forward, my I invite you to pray this prayer of faith right now: "Lord, I confess that I am a sinner. I realize there is nothing I can do to gain eternal life except to trust in You. I believe that Jesus is the only way, and that He died, giving His life for me, and that He rose again from the dead that I might be saved. I ask you right now to come into my life and be my Savior and Lord. I repent and turn away from my sin and disobedience to live a new life in Christ. I am sorrowful for my sin and sinful activities and ask for the Holy Spirit's power to overcome each and every day. I dedicate myself to live for You Lord from this day forward, and I will rely upon Your grace and forgiveness when I do fall into sin. I thank you in the name of Yeshua, Jesus, Amen." 

"I would not work my soul to save, For that the Lord hath done, But I would work like any slave, For love of God's dear Son."

Evidences of Christ's Resurrection