November 15
Ezek 31:1-32:32 | PS 113:1-114:8 | Prov 27:18-20 | Heb 12:14-29
In the most popular sermon of all time, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus could not have been any clearer in Matthew 7:13-14, "“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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." In fact, if anyone thought that statement was unclear, He goes further in 7:21-23, "“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" So, Jesus clearly states that the overwhelming majority of people are on the path to hell, with the minority on the path to heaven. Yet, this is not how people think. Are we so arrogant and short sighted to believe that the reverse is true. Do we believe that certain denominations are excluded from this? Do we believe that certain nations are excluded from this? Because this is how we act. This is what everyone says, "I'm going to heaven because I'm a "pretty good" person. But this flies in the face of Jesus' own words,
We read a recurring phrase in Ezekiel 31-32, as we see in 31:17, "They also went down to hell with it, with those slain by the sword; and those who were its strong arm dwelt in its shadows among the nations." We read of Egypt, Assyria, Elam. Meshach, Tubal, Edom, etc, as in 32:20-21, "“They shall fall in the midst of those slain by the sword; She is delivered to the sword, Drawing her and all her multitudes. The strong among the mighty Shall speak to him out of the midst of hell With those who help him: ‘They have gone down, They lie with the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’" Like what Jesus stated above, could this be any clearer?
These were the major nations and empires of that day. They were not worse than we are. They had people who were clearly evil, but the majority of people were going about their lives, married, caring for children, working, etc. Hard working people, living simple lives. Yet their fate was not heaven, but hell. The leaders of these nations were all lifted up in pride, the people all felt that they were good enough. But they were all wrong. We read in Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,". No do overs here. God sent His Son to die for us. He came to make the payment which we are not capable of. But most reject this gift. Oh, many state that they believe. But believe means to place your full weight on something. It doesn't mean growing up believing or giving mental ascent to God. He will extend grace and mercy, but how few seek this from Him. The minute that you believe that you deserve or have somehow earned heaven, you have missed the point. There is no and with grace. It is never grace and works. So. repent and place your life in Jesus' hands. There is absolutely no other way.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: