Pastor Josh, he sees the heavenly message in the trials of life. His sermons are littered with places he's been, things he's listened to, and his personal experiences. This Sunday sermon was no exception. The sermon opened with his recent trip to St. Louis.
"If any of you have been to St. Louis, you'll understand what I'm talking about." the pastor begins. "There's seven lanes of traffic going the same way. Count them. Seven. Just trying to make sure you're in the right lane is a real challenge. And, what if you're not? How would you ever get into the right lane? If you're in the far right lane and need to be in the far left lane, how're you ever going to get over there to turn? Not only that, there are seven lanes going your direction and seven going the other direction. That means that you have to do the same thing all over again when you leave St. Louis."
The text for the sermon was Luke 13:23-24. It's a short discourse Jesus has with someone who asked him if there would be few that would be saved. Jesus told him to "strive to enter in at the straight gate." Striving could mean trying to get into the right lane. First of all, you have to know where you're going. It's the same way in our spiritual life. The world that you're trying to raise your kid in: there are many, many lanes in life to choose from. But, there's only one lane that will get us to our destination. Get into the right lane--the one to heaven. God's not interested in anything but whether you're in the right lane.
God made a way we can get into the right lane. The road to heaven, it's an uneasy journey of life. Fair has nothing to do with it. Don't try other ways, it won't work. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12) Do the opposite of what the flesh wants to do. Thomas asked Jesus, "Lord, we know not whether thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way..." (John 14:5-6) Jesus is the way. Strive to make heaven your home.
"If any of you have been to St. Louis, you'll understand what I'm talking about." the pastor begins. "There's seven lanes of traffic going the same way. Count them. Seven. Just trying to make sure you're in the right lane is a real challenge. And, what if you're not? How would you ever get into the right lane? If you're in the far right lane and need to be in the far left lane, how're you ever going to get over there to turn? Not only that, there are seven lanes going your direction and seven going the other direction. That means that you have to do the same thing all over again when you leave St. Louis."
The text for the sermon was Luke 13:23-24. It's a short discourse Jesus has with someone who asked him if there would be few that would be saved. Jesus told him to "strive to enter in at the straight gate." Striving could mean trying to get into the right lane. First of all, you have to know where you're going. It's the same way in our spiritual life. The world that you're trying to raise your kid in: there are many, many lanes in life to choose from. But, there's only one lane that will get us to our destination. Get into the right lane--the one to heaven. God's not interested in anything but whether you're in the right lane.
God made a way we can get into the right lane. The road to heaven, it's an uneasy journey of life. Fair has nothing to do with it. Don't try other ways, it won't work. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12) Do the opposite of what the flesh wants to do. Thomas asked Jesus, "Lord, we know not whether thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way..." (John 14:5-6) Jesus is the way. Strive to make heaven your home.
