It seems that many people today have their own ideas of the meaning of life, life after death, how to be joyful, and eternity. Movies have been made with the idea of people becoming angels after they die, or they get to go to their favorite place, or many, many other ideas. It’s something that we have all thought about. It’s unknown, so it’s scary. What waits for us after this life (if anything)? Is there a way for us to know the real meaning of life now, as well as what the future holds?
Narrow Gate
Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus said in verse 13 that “the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” He then said, “the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” For some reason, there is a relatively small number of people who “find” the way that leads to life. This sounds like putting together a large puzzle. It takes work, and not everyone has the patience, but if you persevere, you will reach your goal.
False Prophets
Matthew 7:15 (NASB)
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Jesus said that people would come who would look like sheep (His followers), but in reality they would be wolves. Wolves are not there to feed sheep; they are there to eat the sheep. As we just saw, we need to be entering through the “small gate” on the “narrow path.” Just because someone says they are from God does not mean that they really are. Even if they appear to perform miracles, that does not necessarily mean they are from God. In the book of Revelation, we see the false prophet making “fire come down out of heaven.”
Revelation 13:11, 13 (NASB)
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.
13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
Many
In the gospel of Luke, Jesus warned His followers not to be misled. This implies that many people will be misled. He then said that many would come in His name, saying things that are outright lies.
Luke 21:8 (NASB)
8 And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them.
There is only one God, and only one Jesus. No matter what someone else might say, they will never be God.
False Christs
Matthew 24:23-27 (NASB)
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’, or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.
24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
25 “Behold, I have told you in advance.
26 “So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness’, do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms’, do not believe them.
27 “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
When Jesus Himself comes again (which He will), there won’t be any doubt. Jesus won’t come as someone hiding in some secluded area, forming a cult. He won’t be someone writing a book with a “new revelation.” He won’t even be someone with a large church, claiming to have a better, easier way.
False Gospel
Galatians 1:6-8 (NASB)
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
Even in the apostle Paul’s day, there were people proclaiming a false gospel. Since the word gospel means, “good news”, Paul says that it’s not actually a different gospel. Any other message is not good news, it’s bad news. There can only be one correct answer for 2+2, and Jesus said that there is only one way to heaven.
Only Way
John 14:6 (NASB)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Many people say that it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you believe in something. That’s not what Jesus said. He said that He was the only way to the Father. Self-made gospels won’t cut it.
You might be on a road heading east, but you firmly believe, with all of your heart, that you are heading west. It won’t matter how sincere you are or how strongly you believe. It won’t matter how strong your “faith” is. You are still going the wrong way. The only way to head east would be to turn around and go the right direction.
Approval of Men
John 12:42-43 (NASB)
42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
Imagine being in the presence of Jesus, seeing His miracles, hearing His words, and feeling His love, but you are more concerned about what other people would think of you. This still happens today – people on social media, wanting to be “influencers.” People only posting the good things in their lives, leaving out the rest. It seems many will do almost anything to be seen in a good light. No one wants to have others look down on them. At the end of the day, though, is that what’s most important?
Profit
Mark 8:36-38 (NASB)
36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
37 “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
In the light of eternity, the few years we have on this earth are insignificant. At the same time, what we do now will determine how we spend the rest of eternity. There are people who have become kings, emperors, or conquerors. For a short time, they had it made. Everything they wanted, they could get. Eventually, all of them died. Even in this life, we see that rich and famous people aren’t always happy.
Luke 12:15 (NASB)
15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
There’s an old saying: “Money can’t buy happiness.” All the money in the world can’t fill the hole in our souls that only Jesus can fill.
Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-34, 41 (NASB)
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’
41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;’
Jesus goes on to describe how the sheep are those who followed Him and cared for others. The goats were those who cared for themselves, not caring about other people.
We see that there will definitely be a day when we will all be judged. If we are following Jesus, He says that He will forgive our sins and bring us to heaven with Him. If we follow any other way, we will be separated from Jesus forever, and we will experience torture that was only designed for Satan, not us (verse 41 above).
Jesus wants only the best for you, and so do we. Living a godly, Christian life brings joy today and eternal life tomorrow. To start this life now, click or tap here. You can also reach us by clicking/tapping here.
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