What Path Are We Seeking?“Our lives are filled with decisions - what to wear, what to eat, where to go, what to do, what to say, what to buy, whom to marry, what career to follow … Many decisions are trivial and insignificant, and some are essential and life -changing. The most critical of all is our decision about Jesus Christ and His kingdom. That is the ultimate choice that determines our eternal destiny.”

John MacArthur

What Path Are We Seeking?“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

What Path Are We Seeking?I. The Entrance

Critical Task: We are called to make a DECISION

a) The Wide Gate

• Easy to enter• Many can enter• Comfortable to enter• No restrictions to enter

What Path Are We Seeking?I. The Entrance

Critical Task: We are called to make a DECISION

b) The Narrow Gate• Much more restricted• Only a few will find it• Most refuse to enter it• Guarantees difficulty

“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

What Path Are We Seeking?I. The Entrance

Critical Task: We are called to make a DECISION

b) The Narrow Gate• Much more restricted• Only a few will find it• Most refuse to enter it• Guarantees difficulty

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” John 10:9

What Path Are We Seeking?I. The Entrance

Critical Task: We are called to make a DECISION

What Path Are We Seeking?II. The Journey

Critical Task: We are urged to endure HARDSHIP

a) The Wide Path• Most easily travelled• Everything permitted• No rules or boundaries• Includes the “good” person

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

What Path Are We Seeking?II. The Journey

Critical Task: We are urged to endure HARDSHIP

a) The Wide Path• Most easily travelled• Everything permitted• No rules or boundaries• Includes the “good” person

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ …” 2 Cor. 4:4

What Path Are We Seeking?II. The Journey

Critical Task: We are urged to endure HARDSHIP

b) The Narrow Path• Much more challenging• Walking against majority• Requires strict discipline• Christ must lead the way

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

What Path Are We Seeking?II. The Journey

Critical Task: We are urged to endure HARDSHIP

What Path Are We Seeking?III. The Destination

Critical Task: We are invited to choose LIFE

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction … I set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live ...”

Deuteronomy 30:15,19

What Path Are We Seeking?III. The Destination

Critical Task: We are invited to choose LIFE

a) The End of the Wide Path• Leads to destruction• Eternal punishment• Everything good destroyed• Absence of God forever

“… many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.” Philippians 3:18,19

What Path Are We Seeking?III. The Destination

Critical Task: We are invited to choose LIFE

b) The End of the Narrow Path• Leads to eternal life• We will be rewarded

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36

What Path Are We Seeking?III. The Destination

Critical Task: We are invited to choose LIFE

b) The End of the Narrow Path• Leads to eternal life• We will be rewarded

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68,69

What Path Are We Seeking?III. The Destination

Critical Task: We are invited to choose LIFE

b) The End of the Narrow Path• Leads to eternal life• We will be rewarded• We will fellowship with God• Our souls will be preserved

What Path Are We Seeking?III. The Destination

Critical Task: We are invited to choose LIFE

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matthew 16:25-26

What Path Are We Seeking?III. The Destination

Critical Task: We are invited to choose LIFE