TWO CHOICES THAT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
CHOICE #1: CHOOSE THE NARROW PATH
Many times, when we have to make a big decision, it seems like a crossroad. You can choose to go down one path, or you can choose to go down the other, but the two lead to very different destinations. At this point in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is giving us a crossroad moment. Leading up to this point, we have learned what it looks like to live for Him.
We have learned what it looks like to be a light for Jesus, to trust Him to provide for our needs, how to pray, and so much more. But now, Jesus is giving us a choice to live it out or not. In Matthew 7:13-23, Jesus gives us three examples of the choice we have to make.
Will you take the narrow or the wide path?
Read Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
There are two paths we can choose: the wide path or the narrow one. The wide path represents living like the world – it’s attractive, popular, and many people follow it. But as Scripture tells us, it ultimately leads to destruction because it’s a life apart from Christ. The narrow path, on the other hand, represents living for Jesus. It’s not as commonly chosen, but it leads to life through Christ.
The path is narrow because it has a narrow gate, and that gate is Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Knowing Jesus and surrendering our lives to Him is the only way to take the narrow path.
Choosing the narrow path with Jesus doesn’t mean life will be easy. In fact, Jesus says it will sometimes be hard. Following Jesus also means laying down the things of the world, because they don’t belong on the narrow path. In Mark 8:34 it says, “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” If we are clinging tightly to the things of this world, it will be difficult to pick up our cross.
Are you listening to those who bear good or bad fruit?
Read Matthew 7:15-20: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits.”
As believers, we not only need to be aware of the path we’re taking, but we also need to be mindful of who we are listening to along the way. Jesus warns us to watch out for false prophets. A false prophet is someone who may appear to follow Jesus but, like a wolf disguised as a sheep, they disguise themselves as Christians and lead others away from the truth of Scripture.
To help you discern whether someone might be a false teacher ask yourself:
- What fruit is produced in their life? What do their actions and character reveal?
- Does what they teach align with Scripture?
It’s important to listen to those who bear good fruit and faithfully teach God’s Word, because who we listen to influences us.
Do you have genuine or counterfeit faith?
Read Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Once you’ve confessed Jesus as Lord and surrendered your life to Him, you are His. But, in this passage, Jesus is calling us to examine our faith. He warns us that it is possible to claim faith in Him without actually having a relationship with Him. Just as the wide path and listening to those who bear bad fruit lead to destruction, so does counterfeit faith.
Doing the Father’s will implies that our works are a natural overflow of our faith. We can only do His will if we know Him. The evidence of our faith is that we obediently follow Christ and His commands. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we will naturally produce good fruit.
We often examine our faith by asking, “Do I know Jesus?” – but the more important question is, “Does Jesus know me?” This is the second way we can examine our faith: Does Jesus truly know you? To have genuine faith, we must both know Jesus and be known by Him. This begins with having a real relationship with Him. We can’t have a fruitful relationship with Jesus unless we regularly spend time with Him.
How can you make spending time with Jesus a priority? Remember, it’s your choice.
Will you choose to walk the narrow path, listening to those who bear good fruit, and living out a genuine faith? Jesus is inviting you to choose Him, and it’s the best and most important decision you will ever make!
CHOICE #2: CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOUNDATION
There are two types of people in this world. One carefully reads the instructions that come with their IKEA furniture, lays out all the parts, and follows each step precisely. The other glances at the picture on the box and dives right in, assuming they can figure it out along the way. One method results in a sturdy chair or table, while the other often leads to leftover screws, wobbly legs, and a lot of frustration.
Instructions matter, whether you’re building furniture, following a recipe, or trying to reach a destination. But what about when it comes to something far more important – our lives and our faith?
The Bible is filled with guidance on how to best live according to the One who created life itself. Jesus calls those who hear and follow His teachings wise, like someone who builds his house on solid rock. But those who hear and do not put them into practice are foolish, like the one who builds his or her house on sand.
Wise and Foolish Builders
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for He taught with real authority – quite unlike their teachers of religious law.” Matthew 7:24-29
Step 1: Know the Instructions
With anything in life, if you want to know what to do, you need to read the instructions. You study a cake recipe before you start cracking eggs. You look at a map before heading out on a road trip. Instructions matter. But it’s not enough to simply know God’s instructions, we must also recognize when the world offers counterfeits. We live in a culture that will try to convince you that its way is better. But if you know the truth of God’s Word, you’ll be able to spot the lies in the world.
To truly know something means you must study it. Make it a daily habit to spend time in God’s Word – not just reading a verse here and there, but really digging in. Memorize Scripture. Join a Bible study. Be intentional about learning the instructions God has given to us.
Step 2: Follow the Instructions
Knowing God’s Word is crucial, but it means nothing if we don’t put it into practice. In fact, James says that those who are merely hearers but not doers of the Word deceive themselves. He compares such people to fools, echoing the teaching of Matthew 7 about the foolish builder who built his house on sand.
According to this passage, building your house on a solid foundation is a two-part process. Jesus says, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise.” To be wise, we must listen and obey God’s instructions. James paints a picture of what it looks like to hear the Word but not apply it. He says it’s like looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what you saw. How often do we do this? We read our Bibles in the morning, but by the end of the day, we can’t even recall what we read. If we don’t remember God’s Word, how can we possibly put it into action?
The good news is we are not alone! If we have a relationship with Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit living in us – our Helper and Guide – giving us strength to be a doer of the Word, even when it’s difficult or unpopular. God wants to help us become doers of the Word. All we need to do is ask Him for help. We can also help one another! Find a trusted Christian friend, mentor, or church small group to hold you accountable and encourage you to act on what you’re learning from Scripture.
Step 3: We have a good instructor.
When Jesus finished delivering His famous Sermon on the Mount, the crowd was amazed. Jesus spoke with an authority unlike anything they had ever heard. This was because his authority did not rely on religious scribes or teachers but came directly from God the Father. Jesus’ authority didn’t come from being a great teacher. It was because he is God Himself. He created us, so He knows what is truly best for us.
God’s instructions aren’t about control; they are about love and guidance. His commands lead us into the life He designed for us. We can trust in His guidance on how to live a life that honors Him because He loves us, knows us more deeply than anyone else, and always has our best in mind.
Living in Houston, we are not strangers to storms. From hurricanes, windstorms, even ice storms – we’ve seen how unpredictable and powerful storms can be. Some homes collapse while others remain standing. The foundation makes all the difference! We can build on the solid rock of God’s Word by listening and obeying, or we can build on the shifting sand of our own understanding. One foundation leads to a life that stands firm through every storm; the other crumbles under pressure.
The choice is ours. A strong foundation isn’t built by hearing God’s Word alone. It’s built by putting it into action. Choose to follow Him, and you’ll build a life that lasts. When we build our lives on obedience to Christ, we have an unshakable foundation that can endure anything that life throws our way.