Fork in the Road: Which Way You Going?
1 Amens
God’s Road Signs: Fork in the Road: Which Way You Going?
2 Timothy 3:1-12
Intro: 7th Grade. Poop on shoulder. Choice: A. Punch him square in the face. B. Laugh it off. C. Put my head down in shame and run home feeling dejected. I chose C and it set the precedent for that whole year. He continued to pick on me and I showed up to school every day feeling like I had a bird poop on my shoulder. Choices are so so important!
Most of our choices aren’t that big of a deal. Italian or Mexican? Paper or plastic? Wal-Mart or IGA? Cubs or Cards? Ok, that last one may be important.
Some choices are huge choices: career? Marriage? How many kids? When to retire? And we just hope we get the big ones right.
Every choice is a fork in the road. Which way will you go? Two roads diverged in a wood.
Ex. Choose your own adventure books. I would go back if I didn’t like my choice.
You usually can’t do that. And there is one fork in the road that you must decide before you die. There is no going back.
Proposition: All of us must face a fork in the road of our eternity and in our daily living. You must understand that there is a choice and you must make the right one. This morning I’m going to give you just two things you must understand and do when you come to that big fork in the road and daily smaller forks in the road.
I. Realize and Recognize that You Have Two Choices.
It can be easy in life to feel like you have no choices. I must do this or I have to do that. You always have a choice. The apostle Paul summarizes two big choices of living both when it comes to your eternity and also in your daily living.
Choice 1: The Dark and
Paul has been talking to Timothy about evil men turning people away to false doctrines. And now he is warning Timothy that as time goes by things will get only worse. That the road to darkness and destruction will remain wide and filled with all kinds of evil people. He then lists the types of sin and evil people live out that are on the dark road. These are people that have chosen to live their way and not God’s. He lists over 20 qualities and sins you will see in people that have chosen to live on the dark and wide road. Jesus talked about this road too.
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Things to notice about the dark road:
- It is popular: wide and broad, many enter through it, built on selfish sins and pride.
- It brings temporary pleasure: take advantage of people, talk bad of others, rebel, etc.
- It can even SEEM religious or right: “holding to a form of godliness” (v. 5) (Jannes and Jambres)
- You take others down with you.
Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit? Luke 6:39 Ex. Expelled
Choice 2: The Light and
Paul here talks to Timothy about a totally different road. Verse 10 lists 7 great things to follow Paul in. But then verse 11and 12 doesn’t sound so great. This road of light is marked by suffering and persecution. Is it any wonder that Jesus calls this road narrow and that only few find it?
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Things to notice about the light road:
- It is not popular: narrow, suffering, persecution.
- It can bring temporary pain – but long term pleasure. Choose: temporary pain of discipline or the permanent pain of regret.
- You become an example for others to follow (like Paul says of himself in verse 10).
The road of darkness is quite simply to follow yourself. You choose to follow you. You don’t need anyone else to guide you. And when you stand before God you say – I chose me.
The light road is choosing Christ. In fact, Christ IS the road.
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
When you choose Christ – you are choosing to follow Him. You are proclaiming that you cannot make it on your own. And when you stand before God you say – I have nothing on my own - I choose His righteousness.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:9-10
II. Know that you must choose both initially and daily. (10-12)
Paul has told Timothy that he didn’t just make a one time decision to follow Christ. But every day he has continued to follow Christ by following Paul’s example in teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and suffering. It is not just a one time thing to give your life to Christ. Every day and with every choice you must continue to walk the narrow road of light.
There is an initial choice that Christ talks about:
Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16: 24-26
You must make an initial decision to follow Christ. You must do the ABCs. A – Admit you are a sinner. B – Believe Christ died for you and was raised from the dead. C – Confess Him as your Lord and Savior. And that decision must be settled on this side of the grave. The fork in the road only exists before death. Not one verse in the Bible says you get that opportunity to take Christ as Lord and Savior after death. When you take your final breath, know that you will never again face a fork in the road.
And know that doing nothing is making a choice. Because by default you are already on the dark road that is wide and leads to death. You have to choose to make a course adjustment.
Ex. Getting F for not dropping class.
Becoming a Christ follower is the major fork in your life. But listen, every day you face new smaller forks of which road you will choose to take.
Jesus said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross DAILY, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
Everyday make known to the world that you are on the road of Christ. Don’t act like you live on that old road you left so long ago. You are to be a reflection of the one who now owns you – you are to be a reflection of Christ.
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Ex. Got married things changed: no more trash corner, no more leaving cat vomit on couch, wear a ring, no more putting the Cooper mack on other girls. I am to reflect the commitment I have made to my wife. Ex. Imagine competing in garter toss at every wedding. But honey, I’m really good at it!
In other words, flush the old you and embrace the new and real you!
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Every day you face a new fork in the road. Am I going to go down the road today that is the new me? The narrow road of Christ? Or am I going to go down this big ol’ wide road of how I used to live?
“We have to choose to live from the new heart (God has given us), and our old nature doesn’t go down without a fight.” – John Eldredge, Waking the Dead
12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. Romans 8:12-15
You must realize that you will never be able to point others to freedom if you are still living like a slave. (Repeat)
You see freedom in Christ is about discovering your own freedom from bondage and then teaching others to do the same.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
Conclusion:
You stand at a fork in the road. First choose the road to life and freedom – and then become that fork in the road for others – that they may also be free.
I pray that the words of the great martyred missionary Jim Elliot become your words: “Father, make me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”
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