“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.” Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) Life comes fully loaded with options. There are so many choices and allurements seeking your attention like guided missiles. You are bombarded with compelling advertisements fishing for your time, energy, and resources. Of all the decisions you will make in a lifetime, there is one decision that determines your eternal destiny. Every decision you make points you in a direction and your direction will ultimately determine your destination. Jesus captured the essence of life with two distinct paths. All of life can be condensed to one of two paths. There is a narrow road that leads to life and a broad road that leads to destruction. The narrow road leads to heaven and the broad road leads to hell. Both paths intersect at the cross of Calvary. The substitutionary work that Jesus completed on the cross 2,000 years ago is the point of distinction. Your decision regarding that pivotal moment in history determines the path you travel and the destiny you embrace. Enter through the narrow gate. Choose eternal life by turning from your sin and trusting in Jesus alone for salvation. The broad road will never deliver what it promises. The broad road is littered with deception and emptiness and artificial happiness. Many enter through the wide gate and forfeit life that is truly life. Take the immediate exit off of the highway leading to eternal damnation and enter through the narrow gate to travel the narrow road leading to abundant life and eternal life. Don’t gamble with eternity. Your decision determines the direction and destination of your life. God has paved the way for you to enter through the narrow gate! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Hell
“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.” Matt 7:13-14 (NIV) Life comes fully loaded with options. There are so many choices and allurements seeking your attention like guided missiles. You are bombarded with compelling advertisements fishing for your time, energy, and resources. Of all the decisions you will make in a lifetime, there is one decision that determines your eternal destiny. Every decision you make points you in a direction and your direction will ultimately determine your destination. Jesus captured the essence of life with two distinct paths. All of life can be condensed to one of two paths. There is a narrow road that leads to life and a broad road that leads to destruction. The narrow road leads to heaven and the broad road leads to hell. Both paths intersect at the cross of Calvary. The substitutionary work that Jesus completed on the cross 2,000 years ago is the point of distinction. Your decision regarding that pivotal moment in history determines the path you travel and the destiny you embrace. Enter through the narrow gate. Choose eternal life by turning from your sin and trusting in Jesus alone for salvation. The broad road will never deliver what it promises. The broad road is littered with deception and emptiness and artificial happiness. Many enter through the wide gate and forfeit life that is truly life. Take the immediate exit off of the highway leading to eternal damnation and enter through the narrow gate to travel the narrow road leading to abundant life and eternal life. Don’t gamble with eternity. Your decision determines the direction and destination of your life. God has paved the way for you to enter through the narrow gate! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Psalms 68:5 (NIV) God is your heavenly Father. Long before you decided what to do with God, God decided what to do with you. God took the initiative to reconcile you to Himself through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. God is both the Creator and Sustainer of life. God is love. God is holy. God is eternal. God is the ultimate Father. Your life is secure in His hands. God has chosen you, redeemed you, forgiven you, included you, and sealed you by His Holy Spirit. You are the recipient of His unconditional love. You are the beneficiary of His mercy and grace. Your acceptance of God’s gift of eternal life has transformed your status. You are now a child of God and your name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Your standing before God is now made right by the imputed righteousness of Christ. God sees you through the blood of Jesus. You have been made acceptable in His sight. “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’” Matt 6:9-10 (NIV) “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’” Gal 4:6 (NIV) The most influential person in your life should be God. The fatherhood of God has become a reality in your life as you have chosen to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Whether you have a godly biological father or not does not nullify the abiding relationship that you have with God. Your heavenly Father will never let you down. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Your heavenly Father is perfect. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor (This devotional was originally posted in ’07 or ’08. I’m taking a break from writing for a season of personal renewal.) Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor 5:10 (NIV) Everyone will live forever somewhere. What you do with Christ during your brief stay on planet earth will determine whether you spend eternity in heaven or hell. Your response to God’s offer of salvation is the deciding factor to your eternal destination. As Bruce Wilkinson says, “Your belief determines where you will spend eternity; your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.” “You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” Romans 14:10 (NIV) “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:9-11 (NIV) Every human being will stand before God to give an account for his or her life. Every person will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Those who reject God’s offer of salvation while living on earth will still bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but it will be eternally too late. Believers will go to the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive reward and heaven while unbelievers will go to the White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) to receive punishment and hell. Live circumspectly! Live in full awareness of God’s holiness, purity, and justice! Take as many people with you to heaven as you possibly can in full surrender to the Spirit’s control. Make the most of every opportunity! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor