The Unexpected Reality of Unsuspecting Souls

Matthew 7:12-29

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.   “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.   “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.   Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’  “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Matthew 7:12-29 paints a picture of the Christian pilgrim’s progress through this life. 

You first come to the gate of decision.  There are actually two gates that open to two different paths.  One gate opens to a hard path that leads to life and the other opens to a wide and easy path that leads to destruction.  At the invitation of the Father, a few respond in faith and repentance.  In obedience to the Father, they lay down their heavy load and take up their cross and follow the path of their elder brother, Jesus.  Although the way of the narrow gate has its dangers and temptations, the Christian pilgrim receives: daily provision to sustain him on his journey from his heavenly Father, comfort and guidance from the Spirit, and help and encouragement from fellow pilgrims.  The story of the perfect life, sacrificial death, glorious resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus is a constant reminder of the heavenly home that awaits the Christian pilgrim.  Though the hard path leads down into dark valleys and up steep mountains, through times of sunshine and times of wind and rain, the Christian pilgrim must strive joyfully towards his destination with singular focus, purpose, and direction.  Then finally, the long awaited day will come when the Christian pilgrim, having done all he could to stand, will enter into the presence of King Jesus and hear those beautiful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Master.”

           

Not only do we see a picture of the Christian pilgrim’s progress but we also see four mistakes of unsuspecting souls.  The unsuspecting soul is the person who has mistakenly fallen for a counterfeit way.  And as a result, faces a different verdict at the final judgment.

Mistake 1:  Unsuspecting souls have confidence in counterfeit christs.

            There are many false prophets who name the name of Christ or claim to be the Christ.  There are many who claim to prophecy, cast out demons, and do great miracles, signs, and wonders in Christ’s name.  But their motives are to lead astray and destroy.  Many unsuspecting souls are being led to destruction by these false christs.  Jesus warns us to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”  They, like the unsuspecting souls who follow them, will stand condemned on the Day of Judgment because he never knew them.

Mistake 2:  Unsuspecting souls have confidence in counterfeit experiences.

            There are many unsuspecting souls who have put their faith in a personal experience to give them hope for eternity.  The signs, wonders, and mighty works of false prophets have served to trap them in a form of mysticism.  Acts 8:9-11 says, “But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.  They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”  And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.”  Many are looking for a sign, a wonder, or even a feeling for assurance of their salvation instead of simple faith in the objective truth of the perfect life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Simon the sorcerer heard the good news about Jesus, believed, and was given true hope.

Mistake 3: Unsuspecting souls have confidence in counterfeit morality.

            While the first two mistakes seem quite obvious, this third mistake is a little subtler.  Jesus says, “only those who do the will of my Father,” “who hears these words of mine and does them,” who has compassion and helps his brother in need will enter the kingdom of heaven.  This is not to imply that our deeds justify us before God but that righteous deeds flow from a life that has been first changed by God.  Many unsuspecting souls think that they are right with God because they have held to a false standard of morality.  They hear the “Golden Rule” which says, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them,” and they think they have understood and kept it.  The misunderstanding comes from twisting Jesus’ words and making them about self-preservation instead of Spirit wrought love for neighbor.  Their motivation for not doing bad things for others is simply that bad things wont be done to them.  And their motivation for doing good things for others is simply so others might do good things for them.  They have a misplaced focus, which is evidence of a counterfeit morality. 

Mistake 4: Unsuspecting souls have confidence in counterfeit gospels.

            Matthew 7:13-14 says,   “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.  There is only one way to God and eternal life and that is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  He is the way and the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father but through him.  Our world likes to envision many paths that lead of the preverbal mountain, but there is only one.  It is a path that demands sacrifice.  Jesus tells us in Luke 14:25, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”  For some, the narrow way may bring isolation, persecution, rejection, or affliction but Jesus suffered all these things for the glory that was set before him in obedience to the Father’s will.  And all those who trust in the finished work of Christ alone for salvation have a hope that will endure and a perfect home beyond this present sinful world.  Many have fallen for false gospels that simply add Christ to their list of false gods.  It’s no wonder that few go through the narrow gate and walk the hard path when the path to destruction is paved with ease and false promises of your best life now.

            The unexpected reality of the final judgment is that “not everyone who says to me (Jesus), ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”  At the final judgment there will be many people who think that they are ok with God but will in fact hear Jesus say, “depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”  These are astonishing words from Jesus himself.  When Jesus gazes at our hearts and lives he sees the reality of the situation.  We may be able to fool others by building a pretty facade but Jesus sees and judges the thoughts and intents of our hearts.  Neither church members nor pastors will be exempt nor will they be able to stand on their own righteousness but only the righteousness of Christ.  This is sobering to those who call themselves Christians.  It’s a call for self-examination and healthy judgment within the church in order to rescue unsuspecting souls from the reality of the final judgment.