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Sermon Notes of Rev Dr Ivor J.W.Oakley (8-10-2000 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Additional Reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
We are nearing the end of the Sermon on the Mount, and
our Lord is rounding it off and applying the things he has taught - a good
pattern for all preachers to follow. Throughout the Sermon, a common feature has
been the number two. The hearers are in one of two categories. He has described
two kinds of righteousness, of devotion, treasures, and masters. Now two ways.
Then two trees. Finally, two foundations for a house.
In the broader picture of
Scripture, the emphasis is the same. In Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Moses set before
the people two options – life or death, blessing or cursing. Joshua challenges
the people to choose who they will serve – the gods of the heathen, or the
true God (Joshua 24:15). Jeremiah sets before the people the way of life and the
way of death (Jeremiah 21:8). The way of the godly is contrasted with the way of
the ungodly in Psalm 1. Paul distinguishes between those who are saved and those
who are perishing (1 Cor. 1:18). Constantly in the Lord’s teaching also -
light and darkness, lost and saved in John 3:18-21; the wise and the foolish in
Matthew 25:2; the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:30. And now we have two
gates – wide and small; two paths – broad and narrow; two destinations –
destruction and life.
How we would like a third choice, to walk down the middle of the road, neither one side nor the other – like the Gallup polls, offering three options “yes”, “no” and “don’t know”! But in Scripture there are not three options, only two. And the Lord is urging a response to his teaching. It is not enough to hear and admire and commend. Action needs to be taken; a choice has to be made. Men are constantly at a crossroads in life – where choices have to be made – which subjects to take at school, choices about career, home, marriage, and children. Here is the most important of all choices - whether to follow Christ or not. Not a trivial choice, because its consequences go beyond this life to all eternity. This choice will make all the difference in this world and in the next. There can be no neutrality, we cannot hide or procrastinate or delay. It is not a choice between one religion and another – it is a choice between God, and everyone and everything else. The Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of the evil one.
The broad way, which is accessed by the wide gate, is
very popular. Many are walking that way, carefree, laughing, enjoying it all.
But it ends in destruction. This way has fascination, and is so fascinating that
they risk eternal soul to walk it. But its attraction is superficial. The gate
is so wide you can bring anything with you – self, pride, self-righteousness,
sin. There is plenty of room for diversity of opinions and laxity of morality.
It is the road of tolerance and permissiveness. There are no curbs or boundaries
of thought or conduct. This is the way of selfish ambition and formal religion.
Just do your own thing, and live to please yourself. Follow your own
inclinations and all desires of your human heart. Believe what you like. All are
welcome, no one is rejected. You will never be lonely for there are many
travellers and companions. Plenty of conviviality and good humour. You will walk
arm in arm, you will laugh with them and they will laugh with you.
We all know how comfortable it
is to be “in the swim” and following the latest craze. We are all slaves to
“the done thing”, for we don’t like to be unusual or different. There is
much to attract us to being the same as those around us – plenty of
backslapping and mutual congratulation, luxury, money and fame. But when we look
beneath the surface, how empty and unsatisfying it is, and we see that it lacks
depth, reality or foundation. We are amazed that intelligent people have not
seen through it. Consider the way people dress up to be photographed in society
papers, and relish publicity about their opinions on triviality, habits, likes
and dislikes. Hunger for praise and adulation. Listen to conversation about what
people think is important, things they get excited about and laugh at, popular
papers which specialize in giving people what they want, programs which have
enormous audience ratings on TV. Empty, trivial, pathetic, even from
intellectual angle, let alone the spiritual.
Peter describing his reader’s formal life. Redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).
“Fading
is the worldling’s pleasure,
All
his boasted pomp and show” (John Newton)
Where is the value and satisfaction of a godless,
self-pleasing life? And at the end, there’s nothing. No wonder death is
forbidden subject in many a conversation. What is the use of money,
congratulations, pleasure, looks, compliments, good friends and self-indulgence
when leaving this world?
And beyond? The Bible uses various words to say the same thing - destruction, perishing, eternal death, hell, i.e. Christless eternity with all gloom, misery and suffering. Eternal separation from God. Then sudden realization of what might have been – but too late. Moses once said “Consider your latter end”. Broad road with all its popularity and attractiveness is utterly bankrupt. Nothing to look forward to without hope and without God. The man who does not look beyond immediate moment to future and eternity is a “fool”, according to Jesus (Luke 12:20).
Then Jesus points to very different road. Different
because of the small numbers who travel on it, the kind of people who travel,
and because of where it ends. Superficially, not very attractive. Get on to it
through narrow gate. The road itself is also narrow. Few travel on it compared
with the many who travel on the broad road. But it leads not to destruction but
to life.
Here is the Christian way and Christian life. There is
an element of restriction and limitation on the narrow way. Limitations on what
we believe and how we behave. All within parameters and confines of God’s
Word. Can only go through the
narrow gate one by one. It is a personal entrance, and certain things must be
left behind for there is no place for baggage. Sin must be left behind. That’s
why Jesus emphasised repentance – sin to be forsaken. Neither is there room
for self-righteousness – no boasting about what you have done and are owed.
Only tread this road by the grace of God. Similarly, self has to be left behind
– self-importance, self-glory, self-will. The people on this road do not live
as they like or to please themselves and others. They are under control of God
and under lordship of the Son, with no reliance on self. They have a humble
dependence on God, are poor in spirit, beggars, mourning over sin and weakness,
leaning on the arm of another. They have made a radical break from the world.
Outlook, desires and interests are totally different. Character is very
different. The grace of God touches their inner being, their hearts and their
thought life. They strive to be like Christ, living as Jesus did. Not just
giving up this and that – but denying very right to selves. Leaving self
outside – and that is hardest of all. I no longer live, but Christ lives in
me (Galatians 2:20).
All involves radical break with old way and with world
around. This invites unpopularity, criticism, persecution and being
misunderstood by nearest and dearest. This road is so humbling to pride, natural
outlook and material instincts. No wonder this road is not jam-packed. Only a
few on it. No wonder being a Christian is unpopular. No wonder we are swimming
against the tide. No wonder that Christians are regarded as “odd”, strange,
different, unique. Feel like separate unit in the crowd. In many situations,
they do not feel they belong, but are out of place and despised.
How important to emphasise all this when we evangelize.
It is not a case of coming to Christ and all will be well and a bed of roses all
the way. How misleading to suggest being a Christian is not much different from
the world after all. Jesus was absolutely uncompromising. He never hid his
wounds to gain a friend.
But there is a bit more to add about this road. At the end of the road it is not destruction, but life. Eternity in the presence of God, in the Celestial City, when fullness of joy will be complete. An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:4). At the end of it all, we realize it was not a sacrifice at all. We have lost nothing, and gained everything.
And what compensations even before we see him. When we take a second look, how glorious, wonderful, noble, right and totally satisfying this life is. What choice company we keep. The noblest and best in all ages have walked this road. Most important of all – this is the very road which Jesus walked when on earth. Moreover, when we walk this road, we walk in his company. Many can say they would want to be a Christian even if nothing after death, because of the satisfaction, peace, joy, purpose, companionship of Christ. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9). Jesus described it as treasure hid in a field, so worthwhile that a man sold all he had to buy the field. Pearl of great price – man sold everything to possess it (Matthew 13:44-45). We are fools not to see total picture and consider latter end.
In order to walk through narrow gate on narrow way to
arrive in Celestial City, there is effort involved. Need to look out for narrow
way and keep looking till we find it. No trouble going through wide gate on to
broad way, indeed we are all born walking that way. It suits us and the company
suits us perfectly. And many things in world continue to encourage us to walk
that way.
But to find narrow gate we have to leave the broad way.
Very few find the narrow gate. Many do not even know about it, and of those who
do know about it, many would never dream of entering it. To go through the
narrow gate, a decision is necessary, a definite commitment. Have to
deliberately extricate self from crowd, step out from the multitude, and strike
out on our own. Use initiative and take personal responsibility for action. We
will certainly never drift into narrow way. Hoping and wishing will never get
you there. A definite step is needed. A definite break with the world. Definite
movement in opposite direction. Similar statement by Luke: Make every effort
to enter through the narrow gate (Luke 13:23-24). Interestingly, here the
Greek agwnizesqe
translated “strive” or “make every effort”, is the root of our
word “agonize”. We must agonize over entering the narrow gate.
Tremendous issues at stake - destruction or life. Two entirely different life styles while on earth. Only two ways. Only two destinations. Make every effort to walk the narrow way, to live with God now and eternally. But majority take other direction. Prefer suicide road. People make enormous effort to pass exams, get ahead in their jobs, and make money. How important to make even greater effort to walk the narrow way. One day it will be too late. Door will be shut. Too late to enter. Enter now without delay.
All of us walking along one of the two ways. All going
to one of the two destinations. No neutral middle road. Not fashionable to say
that today. Fashionable to remain uncommitted to anything. We fear to be
labelled “extremist” and “fanatic”.
But Jesus does not allow us to escape issues and run
away from decisions. Not enough to be detached and admire from a distance. The
Gospel and Christ himself demands complete control of our lives. Does Christ
control and dominate my life? We could do worse than repeat practice of
forefathers who used to make contract before God, sign and date it. Quite
literally signed themselves away to the Lord, as a soldier signs self away to
join army.
To those on the road, are you finding it hard, not fashionable? Do you find it hard being part of such a little flock? Is it a struggle every day? Remember it is a glorious thing to follow Christ. It was his purpose to make you holy. To purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus 2:14). You are privileged to be part of that people. We need to talk to ourselves, to remind ourselves who we are and what we are. Every morning say “I am a child of God, a unique person, in the family of God, Christ died for me, translated me from kingdom of darkness into his own kingdom. I am going to live for him today. My relationship and walk with him is the most important thing in my life I may not meet another Christian today, and I might feel all is against me. But he is with me, able to make all grace abound toward me. He will never leave me.”
