What's Your Destiny? Please Read it Til The End !

What's Your Destiny? In The Thesaurs it says for the word"Destiny" this for us to remember:des'tan ne 1. One seemingly invitable succession of events. 2. (One's)fate. 3. Tribulation: (trib'yoo lashun) " To Press" Great Misery or Distress or The Cause of It. 4. Desert: (di zurt')1. To Abandon; forsake 2. to leave(ones miltary post) without permission and with No intent to return which is also called "deserter,desertion. Enter'ye in at the straight gate:for wide is the gate,and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go thereat: Matt.7:13 K.J.V. another version of this verse goes like this: “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell^[a] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. N.L.T.

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The Big Picture:

Christ came to teach us, not only what we are to know and believe, but what we are to do; not only toward God, but toward men; not only toward those of our party and persuasion, but toward men in general, all with whom we have to do. We must do that to our neighbour which we ourselves acknowledge to be fit and reasonable. We must, in our dealings with men, suppose ourselves in the same case and circumstances with those we have to do with, and act accordingly. There are but two ways

right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven and the way to hell; in the one or other of these all are walking: there is no middle place hereafter, no middle way now. All the children of men are saints or sinners, godly or ungodly. See concerning the way of sin and sinners, that the gate is wide, and stands open. You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no check to appetites or passions. It is a broad way; there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful

ways. There is a large company in this way. But what profit is there in being willing to go to hell with others, because they will not go to heaven with us? The way to eternal life is narrow. We are not in heaven as soon as we are got through the strait gate. Self must be denied, the body kept under, and corruptions mortified. Daily temptations must be resisted; duties must be done. We must watch in all things, and walk with care; and we must go through much tribulation. And yet this way should

invite us all; it leads to life: to present comfort in the favour of God, which is the life of the soul; to eternal bliss, the hope of which at the end of our way, should make all the difficulties of the road easy to us. This plain declaration of Christ has been disregarded by many who have taken pains to explain it away; but in all ages the real disciple of Christ has been looked on as a singular, unfashionable character; and all that have sided with the greater number, have gone on in the

broad road to destruction. If we would serve God, we must be firm in our religion. Can we often hear of the strait gate and the narrow way, and how few there are that find it, without being in pain for ourselves, or considering whether we are entered on the narrow way, and what progress we are making in it? (Mt 7:15-20)

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Something to Think About here: Jesus concludes His sermon four warnings arranged in several paired contrasts, even showing how "narrow minded" Christianity is! Christianity is not a both/and but an either/or proposition. Jesus leaves no room for a middle ground or for being a "spiritual mugwump" (In early 1900's a term that came to mean a politician who either could not or would not make up his mind on some important issue, or who refused to take a stand when expected to do so). Poem by Robert Frost:
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I---
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference." observes that in regard to one's eternal destiny...

the greatest danger is self-deception. The scribes and Pharisees had fooled themselves into believing that they were righteous and others were sinful. It is possible for people to know the right language, believe intellectually the right doctrines, obey the right rules, and still not be saved. eiserchomai from eis = into + erchomai = come) means to go or come into and so to enter into. The aorist imperative conveys the sense of urgency, calling for immediate and effective action! Don't delay! Enter now! This is the idea. Don't just admire the principles of the Sermon on the Mount and yet never follow those principles. (stenos) means compressed, strait (KJV), restricted or limited in extent, amount or scope as a narrow gorge between high rocks. Stenos comes from a root that means “?to groan,?” as from being under pressure, and is used figuratively to represent a restriction or constriction. In the present context the picture refers to the strict requirements relating to the entrance to eternal life, specifically God's perfect standard of righteousness (see Matthew 5:20) in stark contrast to the self-righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (and every other false religious system that ultimately is based on man's best efforts which always fall eternally short of God's best effort manifest by His Son on the Cross.) This gate is constraining and beset with difficulty, but it ends in life with God. On the other hand the wide gate leading to the broad, easy way ends where it began, in separation from God. Jesus' point is that choosing Him is neither the popular nor the easy way. (pule) is a leaf or wing of a folding entrance and here describes a door or gate. Note that there are only 2 gates and every person will enter one or the other. To not choose to enter the narrow gate is in fact a choice to enter the wide gate and subsequent destruction.

In John Jesus taught...

"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:9)"I am the (specific, exclusive) way, and the (specific, exclusive) truth, and the (specific, exclusive) life; (absolutely) no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6) (In Greek the definite article "the" is important as it speaks of specificity...in other words, had Jesus been one of many ways, He would not have used the definite article "the" but would have identified Himself as "a" way, "a" truth, "a" life, one of many gates/ways).

(platus) means broad, wide, having a distance larger than usual from side to side or having ample extent from side to side or between limits.Way(hodos) can refer to a road and figuratively as used by Jesus refers to a course of behavior. The way that is broad is the easy, attractive, inclusive, indulgent, permissive, and self-oriented way of the world. There are few rules, few restrictions, and few requirements. All you need do is profess Jesus, or at least be religious, and you are readily accepted in that large and diverse group. Sin is tolerated, truth is moderated, and humility is ignored. God’s Word is praised but not studied, and His standards are admired but not followed. This way requires no spiritual maturity, no moral character, no commitment, and no sacrifice. It is the easy way of floating downstream, in “?the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience?” (?Eph. 2:2?). It is the tragic way “?which seems right to a man,?” but whose “?end is the way of death?” (?Prov. 14:12?).A West Indian who had chosen Islam over Christianity said his reason was that Islam “?is a noble, broad path. There is room for a man and his sins on it. The way of Christ is too narrow.?” It seems that many preachers today do not see that issue as clearly as that unbelieving Muslim, and other cults truly believe in today. Both the broad and the narrow ways point to the good life, to salvation, heaven, God, the kingdom, and blessing-but only the narrow way actually leads to those. There is nothing here to indicate that the broad way is marked “?Hell.?” The point our Lord is making is that it is marked “?Heaven?” but does not lead there. That is the great lie of all the false religions of human achievement. The two very different destinations of the two ways are made clear by the Lord (?cf.? ?Jer 21:8?). The broad … leads to destruction, whereas only the narrow … leads to life. Every religion except Christianity, the only religion of divine accomplishment, follows the same spiritual way and leads to the same spiritual end, to hell. There are many of those roads, and most of them are attractive, appealing, and crowded with travelers. But not a single one leads where it promises; and not a single one fails to lead where Jesus says it leads-to destruction(apoleia from apo = marker of separation, away from + olethros = ruin, death but not annihilation) describes destruction, in this case the utter ruin or complete loss epitomized by eternal punishment, which is ruin away from or separated from God. The idea of apoleia is not that of annihilation but that which is ruined and is no longer usable for its intended purpose. Apoleia does not describe the complete loss of being, but the complete loss of well-being. The related root word apollumi is the term Jesus used to speak of those who are thrown into hell And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy [apollumi] both soul and body in hell. (Mt 10:28)As Jesus makes clear elsewhere, hell is not a place or state of nothingness or unconscious existence, as is the Hindu Nirvana. It is the place of everlasting torment, the place of eternal death, where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” forever (see Mt 13:42, 50).All people are created by God for His glory, but when they refuse to come to Him "through the narrow gate" for salvation, they lose their opportunity for eternal redemption and ultimately the opportunity of becoming what God intended for them to be in Christ. At that time, they are fit only for condemnation and destruction.

Jesus is not giving many paths. His command is "either...or"! There is a choice between two ways and only one leads to eternal life, while the other leads to eternal death. This picture of Two Ways was not a new thought for the same truth is brought out by several Old Testament passages...

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants" (Deut 30:19)

As Joshua neared the fulfillment of his job on earth, he presented Israel once again with the choice: “"And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (?Joshua 24:15?)

"You shall also say to this people, 'Thus says the LORD, "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death" (Jeremiah 21:8)

"For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." (Psalm 1:6)

On Mount Carmel the prophet Elijah asked the people of Israel,

“?How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him?” (?1 Kings 18:21?)“?To every man there openeth
A way and ways and a way;
And the high soul treads the high way,
And the low soul gropes the low;
And in between on the misty flats
The rest drift to and fro;
But to every man there openeth
A high way and a low;
And every man decideth
The way his soul shall go.?”

Jesus called for a choice in the gospel of John and the tragic result was that

“?many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." (John 6:66-69)

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus presents still again that great choice of choices. This sermon therefore cannot be simply admired and praised for its ethics. Its truths will bless those who accept the King but will stand in judgment over those who refuse Him. The one who admires God’s way but does not accept it is under greater judgment, because he acknowledges that he knows the truth. Nor does this sermon apply only to the future age of the millennial kingdom. The truths Jesus teaches here are truths whose essence God teaches in the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament. They are truths for God’s people of every age, and the decision about the gate and the way has always been a now decision... There have always been but two systems of religion in the world. One is God’s system of divine accomplishment, and the other is man’s system of human achievement. One is the religion of God’s grace, the other the religion of men’s works. One is the religion of faith, the other the religion of the flesh. One is the religion of the sincere heart and the internal, the other the religion of hypocrisy and the external.Many (polus) is much of number, quantity or amount. The many will include nominal professing Christians, atheists, religionists, theists, humanists, Jews and Gentiles form every background, persuasion or circumstance who has not found and entered the small gate and come to saving faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.The broad way is the easy way; it is the popular way. But we must not judge spiritual profession by statistics; the majority is not always right. The fact that “everybody does it” is no proof that what they are doing is right. Quite the contrary is true: God’s people have always been a remnant, a small minority in this world. The reason is not difficult to discover: The way of life is narrow, lonely, and costly. We can walk on the broad way and keep our “baggage” of sin and worldliness. But if we enter the narrow way, we must give up those things. Here, then, is the first test: Did your profession of faith in Christ cost you anything? If not, then it was not a true profession. Many people who “trust” Jesus Christ never leave the broad road with its appetites and associations. They have an easy Christianity that makes no demands on them. Yet Jesus said that the narrow way was hard. We cannot walk on two roads, in two different directions, at the same time. There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.(Pr 14:12, 16:25).Narrow (thlibo from thláo = crush, squash) means literally to press hard upon, crowd close against, squeeze or crush. It is so used when speaking of pressing grapes so as to extract the juice. Mark applies the literal meaning of thlibo to describe Jesus asking for a boat to stand ready in case the multitudes would "crowd (or press upon - thlibo) Him" (Mark 3:9). means to to suffer affliction, to be troubled, with reference to sufferings due to the pressure of circumstances, or the antagonism of persons. In the present use the verb in the perfect tense conveys the idea of that which is narrow or strait (cramped, a position of acute difficulty), hemmed in, like a mountain gorge.when referring to the way is ‘rendered narrow’ by the Divine conditions, which make it impossible for any to enter who think the entrance depends upon self–merit, or who still incline towards sin, or desire to continue in evil. Lifeabsolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God the Giver of life and which is made available from Him to those who enter the small gate and the narrow way of Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul explains that for those who enter this narrow way "Christ...is our life Colossians 3:4)

Truly meaningful life, life on the "highest plane", life that really is worthwhile is found only in "the promise of life in Christ Jesus" (note 2 Timothy 1:1) Who came so that we might have life and might have it abundantly (Jn 10:10). This life is "in Christ Jesus" and therefore is a life that is eternal, for He is eternal and our union with Him conveys eternality (right now...in this present evil age!). It is a life that is capable of enjoying the things of God down here, and a life that will be equally suitable to our heavenly home.

Jesus said

"this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." (Jn 17:3)

This new quality of life then is the present possession of the believer because of his or her relationship with the Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world and it is also our future hope when we will receive our glorified bodies, have every tear wiped away and be forever free from sin, sickness, sorrow, suffering, and death (notes Philippians 3:20-21). This is life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God and includes the present as well as the future.

"The special point here is not the promise of life, as proclaimed in the gospel, but life as ministered and enjoyed in the experience of the believer."

Few(oligos) in reference to numbers, means small or few. According to Christ Himself, most people will not be saved, in spite of the fact that He offers salvation as a free gift to all. Jesus clearly did not believe in the doctrine of universalism that is growing in popularity today, the belief that everyone will eventually end up in heaven.

Jesus made a similar allusion to the relatively small number who enter the small gate declaring...

"Do not be afraid, little (3398) flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom." (?Luke 12:32?)

In Luke 12, instead of oligos as in Mt 7:14, Jesus used "mikros" (micro as in microscopic) which signifies something very small.

The number who find life is not "few" because God does not desire for people to be saved, for Peter records...

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing (Boúlomai expresses deliberate exercise of one's will, the inward predisposition and bent from which active volition proceeds and is in the present tense) for any to perish (apollumi - Separation from God Himself = utter and hopeless ruin and loss of well-being and all that gives worth to existence so that instead of becoming what one might have been, he loses all hope of achieving) but for all to come (more literally "to make room for") to repentance (a change of mind that results in an action of the will. If the sinner honestly changes his mind about sin, he will turn from it. If he sincerely changes his mind about Jesus Christ, he will turn to Him, trust Him, and be saved). (see note 2 Peter 3:9)

God...

desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Ti 2:4)

Finding Luke is emphassizes such truths:

"someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, "Strive (present imperative of agonizomai) to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able" (Luke 13:23-24) (Agonizomai implies that entering the door to God’s kingdom takes conscious, purposeful, and intense effort)

The Narrow Way
by William Cowper

What thousands never knew the road!
What thousands hate it when ‘tis known!
None but the chosen tribes of God
Will seek or choose it for their own.

A thousand ways in ruin end,
One only leads to joys on high;
By that my willing steps ascend,
Pleased with a journey to the sky.

No more I ask or hope to find
Delight or happiness below;
Sorrow may well possess the mind
That feeds where thorns and thistles grow.

The joy that fades is not for me,
I seek immortal joys above;
There glory without end shall be
The bright reward of faith and love.

Cleave to the world, ye sordid worms,
Contented lick your native dust!
But God shall fight with all his storms,
Against the idol of your trust.

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The Bottomline is: I'd rather put forth truths than have someone I love very deeply and care about, even to people that I don't know personally in this life and have them miss out of what God hass to offer them each as individuals and to come unto Him in one's own life then to be facing Hell for all eternity. It totally grieves me to even think about that kind of a destiny for all people in this world to have to live with in that horrible place in one's own life. Personally if this offends you than ...Please dis-regard it all together! For I'm not sorry for the Gospel at all ! For I want each of You so badly to see what the writing on the wall is all about here and unto this world at large: I see great TROUBLE and STRIFE about to hit the four corners of the globe and a GREAT SHAKING will take place. And in this countries future is going to very, very horrible in this nation of people will be destroyed by our goverments hands in helping the anit-christ in killling us like in germany back in 1938-1943 freed all the remainding Jews from out that horrible nightmear of all of those lives. I'm here to ask a question to You today... Is this what each of You want? Or is it God ? That choice is up to You! I simply would love to see all of You in heaven one day! catcmo2006

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catcmo2006 Thank You for stopping in this site it's about Jesus Christ first and prayers, intecessory prayer's and at other times about this vast world we live in today which this old world as we all know it is slowly departing to be reaching our home in glory.