A few weeks ago Pastor Jon McNeff at my church spoke on the plot to kill Jesus. The sermon is called "Satan's Cesspool" and if you want to listen to it you can go to www.Northcreekchurch.org It was a really good sermon and I highly recommend it. I had always wondered about Judas Iscariot. I had wondered about him because if Judas was remorseful because he betrayed Jesus was he a believer (born again Christian) or not? This sermon is the first time I had my question answered. Here is the Bible verses that speaks of the plot to kill Jesus. "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd." Luke 22:1-6 ESV
The first sign that Judas Iscariot was not a believer is the fact that Satan entered him. If you are a born-again Christian Satan can't enter you. Then the question of remorse that I had was answered because Judas had remorse and then killed himself. He ran away from Jesus instead of running to Him. So this is a description of someone who was only a follower of Jesus and not an actual believer of Jesus. So Judas Iscariot was not a born again Christian. This then got me thinking about so many people who know about Jesus, but have not asked Jesus to forgive them from their sins and to be their Lord and Savior. They too are merely followers of Jesus, but not saved believers of Jesus. History books know there was a guy 2000 years ago named Jesus so you can know who He is and follow Him, but unless you have asked for forgiveness of sins and asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior you are not saved. This then got me thinking about the Bible verse found in Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) "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 are not many paths to heaven. I know many people think there are, but the Bible says that is not true. Unfortunately, those who believe there are many paths to heaven will be very upset when they die and find themselves separated from God forever (to be blunt they will be in hell). Only Jesus can save you. There are so many philosophies that profess to have truth, but that is part of the wide gate that leads to destruction. In my painting is a young woman walking on her journey of life. The umbrella stands for the storms that may come her way and the blue sky stands for the happy times of her life. She has a decision to make. She must decide while she is in this life on earth which path she will choose. Will she choose the wide gate that leads to destruction or the narrow gate that lead to eternal life with Jesus? Just like you, only she can decide.
Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that those reading this will choose Jesus and understand what the wide gate and the narrow gate really means. I pray they will choose to believe in You and ask for Your gift of salvation. I pray that You will soften their hearts so they may receive You Lord Jesus. I pray that You will show everyone who is unsaved that You are real and the Bible is God breathed and true. Please open their eyes. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
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