Drift or Decide | Part I
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Have you ever gotten some new information that changed the way you view everything?
There once was a couple whose daughter was having trouble connecting in her new school. She had a difficult time meeting new friends and meeting new people. So in an effort to help, her parents signed her up for the swim team. Instantly there was a change. They noticed their daughter was having an incredible time meeting new friends and new people at all these swim meets. Yet every time she would participate in these swim meets she would get last place every time. Her dad started to get worried about her self-confidence and decided that on the last swim meet he was going to give her a pep talk.
“Okay honey,” he said, “I know you’re having a great time meeting new friends and meeting new people. But today is the last swim meet of the season…”
With a determined expression he pumped his fists in the air at each point, “So I want you to go out there and swim hard and I want you to swim fast and I want you to go out there and WIN!”
His daughter with a look of shock responds, “You mean its a race?”
Sometimes we get some new information that changes everything! In the passage, Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus brings some new information that changes everything.
Decision Time
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” - Matthew 7:13-14
What is he talking about here? It seems he’s talking about a narrow gate and a wide gate, a narrow road, and a wide road but in reality, this isn’t about gates and roads, it's about decisions. Jesus changes everything by pointing out two realities. The first is that there are only two options for us, destruction, and life. The second is that you have a decision to make!
Decisions are a really big deal, maybe the most important aspect of life, and most people, well, they generally make bad decisions. I did a little research on some historically bad decisions people have made. For example:
Sam Phillips sold a small recording company to RCA Records for $35,000. It included an exclusive contract with a young man named Elvis Presley, so he unknowingly forfeited royalties of more than one billion records. Bad decision.
Tom Sellick once turned down the role of Indiana Jones. Bad decision.
A thief in Boston attempted to steal two live Maine lobsters and decided the best way to do that was to stick them down his pants. Bad decision.
In Germany, a bank robber pulled out a gun and demanded money. The teller said she needed to see his I.D. So he pulled it out, took the cash, and left the I.D. behind. Bad decision.
Three prison guards were fired for giving the prisoners a trampoline during exercise break because they were using it to jump over the fence. Bad decision.
The truth is we all make bad decisions. Let me share with you some of the most common motivations for decision-making we use.
Motivation 1: Situations
Sometimes we make decisions based on the circumstances we’re in. Some people go through life largely making decisions off of whatever situation they are currently in. They aren’t usually the kind of people who ask what they want out of life. Instead, they drift their way through life without ever accomplishing much. The problem with that is that even a dead fish can float downriver!
Motivation 2: Emotions
Sometimes we make decisions based on our emotions. The problem with that is that emotions are a terrible barometer of reality. Let me give you some advice that I received years ago that changed my life.
Don’t make decisions when you’re down.
Why? I’m willing to bet you’ve never heard someone say, “Wow! I’m so encouraged about my marriage - I’m going to get a divorce!” Or “Wow! I am so encouraged about my job, I think I’m going to quit!” Discouragement always precedes destruction. Don’t make decisions out of a place of deep discouragement.
Motivation 3: Criticism
Sometimes we make decisions based on the criticism of others. There is a temptation to avoid doing anything that God has called you to do or say because of the criticism you might receive. I like what Billy Graham said about criticism,
“Listening to your critics is like bobbing for apples in a vat of acid.”
All you’re gonna do is get burned. There is a massive difference between receiving constructive feedback from those that love you and listening to criticism from those who pretend to love you. The way you avoid criticism is simple, say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing and no one will criticize you. The problem is, that’s not what God has for you!
The Right Motive
There is, I believe, one motivation for making great decisions and that’s from God-honoring convictions! Why is this good news? Because your decisions determine your direction and your direction determines your destiny. I’ll say it again,
Decisions determine direction and direction determines destiny.
This means your destiny is not determined by your intelligence. It means your destiny is not determined by the kind of parents you had. It means your destiny is not determined by who your boss is. Your destiny is determined by the direction of your life, which is determined by the decisions you can make today.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6 NIV
Here Jesus offers us a choice, a decision to make. He is calling you, begging you to take the narrow road that leads to life. Out of his great love for us, he offers us not just a choice but a choice that leads to life! My encouragement to you is this, make the decision to follow Jesus, it will change everything.
