16.s. “But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”

John 10:1  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Jeremiah 23:16-17   Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.  They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

Ecclesiastes 11:9     Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

2 Peter 2:1   But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

1 John 4:1    Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

There is but one gate, one way to eternal life and that is through Jesus Christ.  All other attempts through any other means will result in Hell.  Every day we face numerous gates that offer peace, satisfaction, health, wealth, etc….. There is only one gate that gives us assurance of peace of mind that passes all understanding.  It is Jesus Christ alone.  Trying to find a path to eternity apart from the gate of Jesus ends in missing the shepherd.  There appears to be many preaching right now that try to fill the church with the promises of what this world has to offer rather than preaching what eternal life has to offer.  This world is not our home.  Things of this world are not our inheritance.  Things in this world are not our satisfaction.  Things in this world are not our hope.  Things of this world do not offer eternal life.  In fact, things of this world pull at us, confuse us, and try to entice us this is where we find hope, peace, eternal life, satisfaction, wealth, etc…..

There is one gate, one path, one way to eternal life – Jesus Christ

The sheep hear His voice

“They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.  They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

“They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word.”

“hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.”

“having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people”,  “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”

John 10:1  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Proverbs 19:27    Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

2 Peter 2:1     But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies

1John 4:1    Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Colossians 2:6    Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,  rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

1 John 4:5    They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Living for the single purpose to humbly serve, honor, follow, and obey Jesus Christ is driven by a deep heart desire, want and commitment.  Knowledge, understanding, and ability to hear His whispers of guidance into our life has firm root in and through His word and is a reflection of this desire our time spent in it.  How many days are spent complacently neglecting our purpose this side of eternity.  These scriptures are directed toward those who have an appearance of walking with the direction, power, and light of Jesus Christ.  Yet, in reality, they have none.  Our purpose is to be more than an appearance.  in Malachi it says :“They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.  Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.  Walking with and serving God is not to be a self directed life but rather one that seeks to know, wants to know, and is ever listening for God’s direction.  Do you want to find a place of comfort, refuge, hope, joy, love, courage, peace, and purpose?  Set your heart, mind and soul on Him. Spend time in His word.  This side of eternity is filled with cultural lies, false hope, and non-God seeking purpose.  Each day we must fight off these lies with truth which is found in and through Jesus Christ.  Think about the commitment David had in his heart, mind and soul – Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!