The Freedom to Choose (Between Two Paths)
Pastor Tan Thai · Jul 6, 2014
This sermon, based on Matthew 7:12-14, presents two clear paths that every person must choose: the narrow road leading to life through Jesus Christ, and the wide road leading to destruction. God gives us freedom to choose, but He also clearly reveals the consequences of each decision.
The sermon opens with vivid illustrations from modern life, such as hundreds of brands of toothpaste, smartphones, and cosmetics, to show that people today live in a world overflowing with choices. The preacher leads the congregation through three common worldly perspectives: that more choices are always better, that no choice is absolutely right or wrong, and that no one has the right to judge another person's decisions.
However, the sermon firmly establishes that God Himself has placed two clear choices before humanity from the very beginning — from the Garden of Eden with the command regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17), to Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal symbolizing blessing and curse, to Moses' call to the people in Deuteronomy 30:15-19. Psalm 1 also clearly distinguishes two kinds of people — the righteous and the wicked — with two entirely different outcomes.
The heart of the sermon focuses on the narrow road that leads to life through Jesus Christ. The preacher cites key Scripture passages such as John 14:6, 1 John 5:11-12, Acts 4:12, and John 10:9 to affirm that salvation is found in only one person. The narrow road is explained as narrow because there is only one God and one salvation; because it is difficult, with many trials, temptations, and opposition; and because few people choose it.
The sermon uses several compelling illustrations, including the story of Singapore surgeon Richard Teo Keng Siang, who became a millionaire but realized on his deathbed that wealth and success cannot bring true happiness. The story of Ronald Reagan learning a lesson from a shoemaker, and the contrasting lives of Billy Graham and Charles Templeton — who abandoned his faith and wrote 'Farewell to God' before his death — are presented as concrete examples of diverging life choices.
The sermon closes with a clear call to action: every person must listen, reflect, and decide to choose one of the two paths. The preacher cites Joshua 24:15 as a model of decisive commitment, and reminds the congregation that even believers who have already received Christ sometimes leave the narrow road to pursue the wide road of the world. According to John 8:31-32, the truth found in Christ's teaching is what brings genuine freedom to all who remain in His word.