Consequences Or Rewards
June 7, 2026
Morning Service
Pastor Greg Isom
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
This is a teaching Jesus shared from His Sermon on the Mount. It highlights the fact that there are two gates in which we are able to choose from; the wide and the narrow gate. The wide gate seems like the easier and most popular choice but notice that it leads to destruction. The narrow, difficult gate however leads to life and it is only the few that find it. This parable of course is demonstrating the choice we have in our lives to follow the path that we choose. The wide gate is living a life that is all about “me” and pursuing the pleasures of this world choosing to ignore all that God has for me. Many walk through this gate by either making a choice to rebel against God, as we talked about a few weeks ago, or by not making a choice to follow Jesus. No choice is a choice. The narrow, difficult gate is choosing to follow Jesus yielding our will to His and living a life that is pleasing in His sight. God has given us a free will to choose and this parable shows us that with my choice comes consequences or rewards. In choosing the wide gate and rejecting God I will receive the consequences of destruction; my part in the lake of fire separated from the presence of God. In choosing the narrow, difficult gate of following Jesus we will receive the reward of life eternal in the presence of Savior living in true happiness and contentment. One path or gate leads to destruction and the other to life and I get to choose.
My question to each of you this morning is where is the path you are following leading you? Are you going with the flow like everyone else enjoying life as it comes OR are you committed to purposely following Jesus? This parable sets the table for our journey through Romans this morning.
Last week Paul raked us over the coals for hypocritically judging others for things that we are doing ourselves. We were commanded to “look in our own mirror first” and remove the 2×4 there before we try to help others with the splinter in their eye (Matt. 7). He continues today by again pointing us back to our mirror and also making us aware of the consequences or rewards that come from what we do about what we see in our spiritual mirror.
Romans 2:4-6 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (5) But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, (6) who “WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS”:
Paul reveals to us that by only looking at others and not ourselves we are showing that we “despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance and long suffering.” In that action of refusing to repent and make the changes in our life God is guiding us to (shown by our impenitent heart), we bring the consequences of that choice upon ourselves. We are choosing “wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God.” We choose to ignore that narrow, difficult gate where we honestly look deep within ourselves and admit that we are the one in need of forgiveness and repent of it. It is not only hearing or knowing the Word, it is the doing that displays that we believe and are committed to following Jesus. Paul, in verse 6, quotes Psalms 62:12 that God will give to us either consequences or rewards “according to our deeds.” He now explains further the impact of the choice we make that leads to two totally different destinations.
First let me be sure that you understand that Paul is not contradicting himself from chapter 1 where he said we are saved by our faith and now is pushing that we are saved by these works or actions. Our faith, believing that God is and cares for us, must be the motivation for these actions as James tells us: “I will show you my faith through my works.” (James 2:18) And “faith without works is dead” (2:26). Our faith in God motivates us to choose the narrow, difficult gate and produce these works.
Romans 2:7-11 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; (8) but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, (9) tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; (10) but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (11) For there is no partiality with God.
Paul here speaks of rewards here first. We see that by our “patient continuance in doing good,” which means getting up everyday and doing our best to serve our Lord and Savior, will lead us to rewards of eternal life, glory, honor, immortality and peace. By choosing to follow Jesus through the narrow, difficult gate we are seeking to receive these wonderful, priceless treasures as a reward for our faith; faith that moves us to action.
However, by choosing the wide gate and living a life of “self-seeking, disobedience, and unrighteousness,” we choose to forfeit that reward and choose the consequences instead. That choice of rejecting God leads to indignation, wrath, tribulation and anguish. Many choose this wide gate, but I am not sure they know and understand where it is leading them; a very sad truth. Jesus tells us here in John that He does not have to judge these who make this choice they are truly judging themselves.
John 12:47-48 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (48) He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
This is the argument of many who do not believe in God, asking how a loving God send someone to hell. He does not send them there, they send themselves by choosing the wide gate and living a life that ignores the very words He said that would save them. As our kids say; “the teacher got me in trouble today.” It was not the teacher enforcing the rules that got you in trouble it was you breaking the rules that did it (consequences). God does not send anyone away from Him, I choose to accept or reject Him and bring about either consequences or rewards. Revelations tells us very clearly how these two scenarios end.
Revelations 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (13) The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. (14) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
To be found in the Book of Life means you have chosen the narrow, difficult gate accepting Jesus’ invitation to “follow Me.” So if your name is not written there it means you have rejected Jesus and chosen the wide gate. The consequences of choosing the wide gate is being cast into the lake of fire and being separated from God for eternity. We as the church often shy away from sharing this truth but it is very clear here of the magnitude of this choice. Many meander down this path not realizing where it is leading them. It is up to us tell them in a loving and compassionate manner. Now listen to the reward for choosing the right gate.
Rev 21:1-5 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. (2) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (4) And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (5) Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
In choosing to believe in Jesus and yielding my will to His, I am given the hope to spend eternity in heaven in the very presence of God. Jesus will live there with me and I will look upon the face of the One who lovingly gave His all for me. All the terrible things of this earth will not be there. No more death, sorrow, or pain as we will enjoy life eternal in a perfect world prepared just for us who have chosen the reward of choosing the narrow, difficult gate. You have the ability to choose this morning whether you will receive the consequences of living a life that is centered around you and the pleasures of this world OR to receive the rewards that are given to those who choose to live for Jesus. Look in your mirror, where is the path that you are on leading you, to consequences or rewards?