VOICES & CHOICES Sand or Stone? “Live like no one else so that someday you can live like no one else” – Dave Ramsey One of the greatest lessons that we can learn from the Bible to help us make wise decisions is found in the 7th chapter of the book of Matthew. Jesus talks about two roads, two foundations, and true Christianity: Matthew 7 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Jesus doesn’t hold back anything from you here. He let’s you know that it is easier to be lost than to be saved. Those who will be lost only have to keep following after the mass crowds of the world - the “broad way”. The broad way has no boundaries, it just keeps expanding. Every lifestyle and belief is accepted in the broad way. You do not face resistance because everyone is doing their own thing. But those who will be saved will be the people who have decided to go down the road less traveled - the “narrow way”. The narrow way takes some guts and determination. You have boundaries and moral standards that come from the Word of God. There are places you won’t go and things you won’t do. Everybody knows that you’re on the narrow way because you act different, you talk different, and you may even look different. You stand out because you’re going one direction when everyone else is going another. Although the quote I used by Dave Ramsey is used in financial planning, if you live like no one else and choose the narrow way, in the end you will live like no one else! Matthew 7 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. KJV Not everyone that says – but he that does. Jesus does away with the notion that we can somehow be a Christian in name only – Confessing him as Lord, but refusing him as Savior. He makes it clear that we must do the will of God in order to be saved. In other words, there must be an action to our faith. People will know that you are a Christian, not because YOU say you are, but because your life reflects the obedience to the teachings of Christ. Matthew 7 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. A great lesson here is that you can be sure that there will be “storms”, or trials, in your life. As a matter of fact, many times the same trials will come to both the believer and the unbeliever. Also, at one point or another, you are going to hear the words of Christ. This may come through a sermon, the Bible, or a study such as this one. Here’s the key: the difference between being saved and being lost is all about how you respond to the voice of God in your life. Those who receive His words, and act upon them, will be set upon the Rock Christ Jesus and will not fall. Those who reject His words, and take no action, will be like a man trying to live in a Castle made of sand. It sure looks appealing for a while but when the storm comes or the tide rolls in, they will crumble and fall. Make sure that your decision is the Rock, Christ Jesus. @Back on Track Bible Studies - Rick Flores 2013 (Excerpt from Chances We Take/Choices We Make, a future youth project)
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 00:00:01 +0000
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