The Highway to Heaven: Finding True Happiness

Everybody you're listening to a new beginning, which is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. If this program is impacted you, I love to hear from you. So just send an email to me at greg@harvest.org again it's greg@harvest.org you can learn more about becoming harvest partner by going to harvest.org coming up today on a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie has encouragement for the wanderer, you can experience love and joy and peace there is someone to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that wasn't enough, he tells us that there is lightning on the gray way will have real that one day the way the second half to get on the right to get the right.

You need to get on the highway and in so many of us should we need a pick me up, find enjoyment.

We go shopping or do we go shopping at this time. We should all be ecstatic to get to the end of the temporary happiness they find things they buy. They often wonder is that all there is wonder if there's more to life today on a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie says yes there is.

Explain a little bit about your future in your lot.

Know your plans for your life on earth what your plans for eternity. Something will think about a lease we ought to, especially young people, you think about what you're going to do with your life. You know what college I go to college at all. We got to marry where you live what you going to do what you would like to do well. Think about things like that. I read an interesting survey that was taken I read about one rather conducted by a leading polling agency and questionnaires were distributed among people of various ages and occupation and the key question was that what are you looking for most in life and when the results were completed. The analysts were surprised because most of the minutes affected answers. I would suggest materialistic goal with the top three things that people wanted in life or love, joy and peace that they want more than anything else more than a big car, a nice counselor make lots of money or worldwide fame or whatever else that people think they want people want love and joy and peace. That's exactly what the Bible promises we can have in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, known maybe for some, that sounds too good to be true. All that's in a movie menu can actually experience love and joy and peace, not in this place that we call earth you live in the same planet that I live on Avenue U turn on the news lately. How could you even believe you can have such things as love and joy and peace. Dr. Nicholas Cage was a new bill amount made this statement. His philosophy on life.

Recently we are to ruin ourselves to break our hearts to love the wrong people, and God." Okay have some fun now with Nick Cage, Dr. George Clooney made this pessimistic statement about life quote I don't believe in happy endings, but I do believe in happy travels because ultimately you die at a very young age we live long enough to watch her friends die. It's a mean thing like" what a miserable outlook he has on life. You feel this way right now like Nicholas Cage or to ruin yourself. Break your heart. Love the wrong people or die like George Clooney thinking them life is a mean thing, I'm here to tell you there's more to life than this, you can experience love, joy, and peace. There is something or more to the point someone to believe in. And of course it's Jesus Christ, and he promises you a life that is full with purpose and with meaning that you can live in it that wasn't enough, he tells us that there is likely on the grave in a place called heaven. So you might say will grade all look forward to that one day the way the second you have to get on the right road to get to the right destination port is this road that I'm talking about.

Where is it is hard to find. Is it hard to walk on what you gotten there.

Well let me read you know from Isaiah 35 verses 8 to 10 in the main road will go to the once deserted land. It will be called the highway of holiness evil hearted people will never travel on it. It will only be for those who walk in God's ways.

Full never walk their minds will not look along its course on the be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will follow it. Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy, sorrow and mourning will disappear and they will be overcome with joy and gladness, God gives us a picture here comparing our relationship to him with being on a freeway or a highway that will know about freeways, only to get out of the freeways a lot.

Most of us to miserable out there.

I mean, it is just gridlock like a parking lot and I just go crazy when I drive because it's because of what other people do crazy things that they'll do. And you know it's just a constant source of frustration to me and you know you're stuck out of these freeway for hours on end.

Everybody's rushing about, they all supposedly have a destination but have never gone the wrong way on a freeway.

I have because I've traveled overseas. Take England for instance if there steering wheels are on the wrong side of the car.

So instead of being on the driver side like where you did there. Steering wheel is over here and then to make matters worse, there were there liens are reversed in England so you're in the wrong side of the car and are automatically drawn to go on the wrong lane and then throwing jet lag. In view of a disastrous combination and what I've been driving anything. When I got up curbside got up the wrong roads. I went a British around about you know that if it's this little circular thing you get on it and then you go around and then you come to your little part people off. But the problem was I couldn't find where you got up and I spent a month around about this around and around.

I went not knowing where I was going a lot of people like that align their just going around and around in circles.

Not sure where they're going where they're going to remove the running with. But they just go on and on and on.

You need to get on the highway to heaven. There's five things about this highway to heaven. I want you to see number one there is a road to heaven. Number two, it's easy to fall. Number three.

It's a Holy Rd., #4, it's a Happy Rd., #5. It's the only road number one. There is a road to heaven.

Jesus said, you can enter God's kingdom only to the narrow gate the highway to hell is broad in its gate is wide for many who choose the easy way with the gateway.

The light was small and the road is narrow and only if you ever find is clear Jesus is saying there is a way for us to walk in life. He is certainly not advocating that all roads lead to God. A lot of the sort of see that the road of life is a meta-highway with multiple lanes when you started changing lanes all the time that the limitary that's not the highway of life is not a giant freeway with multiple lanes to choose from and they all get us to the same place and it's all cool, whatever you want to believe that's fine as long as you there.

That's ridiculous. The Bible tells us out of the way to heaven tells us that's the way to structure Proverbs 1412 says there is a way that seems right into a man but the end thereof is the way of death.

See every day you live, you decide what road you are on God is giving you a choice.

He says in Deuteronomy 35 set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, that you and your descendents may live in Jeremiah 616. The Lord said stand and the ways in CNS for the old house with a good way is an walk in it. If you will find rest for your souls.

So we have a choice to make.

I need to get in the Narrow Way, God's highway that leads to life on the be on the Broadway. The easy way that leads to destruction.

Number two. This road this highway to heaven is easy to find. That's good for me to know is I'm always getting lost. I get lost with GPS. It doesn't matter. I'm always going the wrong direction.

But God's way is easy to find even a child can figure it out heard a story about a drunken man was looking for something on the sidewalk.

One night under a streetlight was groping along on the ground holding the lamppost for support and someone walked by and said excuse me what you looking for the drunk guys I'm looking for my wallet visit. Did you lose your wallet here shows course not, or diluted two blocks back there to look back there.

There's no streetlights back there for second, do you any good to look for some unless you look in the right place. God has given us the right place to look.

He's given us the right way to live and he will reveal himself to a true seeker. I believe if someone really wants to know God, God will make himself real to them in a tangible way. God says I love those who love me and those that seek me diligently will find me your great glory of the second half of this message moment right after a quick look at the way a new beginning touches the lives of listeners in my lap and the Lord letting you know having a guiding hearing the radio in my mind helping me today relaying every town while stories like that really moved me to get this this young lady is a little girl here in our program and that she obviously made some bad choices in life, becoming an addict where own admission, but coming back to the Lord of the Bible says if you train the child in the way that they should go the come back to the return to it and that's what happened with this young lady and that's when so important to when you're driving around with your kids in your car bring to listen to contemporary Christian music.

Great to listen to Christian radio and can I just say really great to listen to a new beginning because the word of God will not return void. So were so thankful that our ministry is touched or back in her childhood to this present day, and that's why we do what we do and we couldn't do what we do without the support of our listeners.

Thanks much for praying for us and for investing so this work can continue. You can make a generous year-end gift today at harvest.orc will today. Pastor Greg is giving us five observations about the highway to heaven. We should all be on. Let's continue. Number three the highway to heaven is a holy Road. It's a holy Road verse eight says it will be called the highway of holiness that were reminded in Hebrews 12 without holiness no one will see the Lord letting the fine.

What it means to be holy because that's a word that sort of process. Holy HO LY spell it another way, W. H. Oh LOL why holy, holy, committed a lot of people are wholly committed to a lot of things that are wholly committed to serving their wholly committed to skating their wholly committed to career their wholly committed to videogame their wholly committed to football to basketball to baseball their wholly committed to something so were all committed to things that were just passionate about that were fired up about. So, to be holy is to be holy committed, you see, and nobody can do this in their own strength.

None of us can live a holy life in their own ability because we all are going to fall short see, but what God is looking for is a total commitment to him. The problem is for a lot of people. They never made the full commitment to Christ become 111 two world to know you're gonna want Christianity. I want forgiveness I want to go to heaven but was soon a party and someone help Bob you're the youngster like a guy with a foot on the docket a foot on the boat starting to drift away to get her to work you need to decide you know if you want to live for this world. Go look for this world you want to experience the pleasures of the world. Living a should life a secret life for all that the world has to offer to go to hell with you will be a credit to be true to yourself truly wrong but Elise, you are what you are Christian goal for wholly committed to the Lord passionate about Jesus Christ giving him your everything with the promise. So many wanted a little of this a little of that you end up getting nothing. You have too much of the Lord to be happy in the world and too much of the world to be happy in the Lord and you're in this miserable no man's land of compromise.

Live a holy life.

I know what you're thinking your thinking holy life, whether to just call it what it is live up boring life boring honey what you can do you know you're looking to go on drinking a party and I can have sex at least outside of marriage and you do any of the fun stuff. Now go to Bible study. Ray Bible study again and try little bit more and no deliberate try. Let's try. That's what it is. My been on both sides of the fence. The first 17 years of my life I lived without Christ by experience with this world has to offer. It's all I knew it was everything I had.

I watch my mother's life. I saw what alcoholism did to her rights are immorality amen used and abused her. She almost got killed in two separate occasions because of her drinking and ironically I got into the party scene myself. I started drinking myself smoking all that and then I got into drugs for a while and I saw the emptiness and futility of it, but I didn't know what the answer was, but I knew one thing. This is in their so for me it was sort of process of elimination. I don't know the truth yet, but I know this is true. I know this isn't what I want to waste my life on and then fortunately, I was exposed to the gospel, but I was afraid it was going to be up boring life, but I'm telling you the Christian life when it slips right and you live holy, for the Lord Is Not Boring Rd., #4. It's a happy road.

It's a happy road. Isaiah 35 for those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy, sorrow and mourning will disappear. The be overcome with joy and gladness. The holy life is a happy life in the Christian life is the fullest line. See, when I came to Christ. 17 five years ago, you little bit longer. I wasn't thinking that much about life after death is much as I was thinking about life during life and I heard the promise of Jesus.

Ray said I have come that you might have life and that more abundantly.

And that's what I wanted that's what he offers to you a full life. Check this out life.

We don't need these artificial stimulants this world has to offer. You don't need drugs to get there. You don't need alcohol to get there you have the real thing whiteness around the cheap substitute when you can of the genuine article.

The Bible says don't be drunk with wine, but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit. You don't need the spirits, you need the Holy Spirit in you living a happy life in a holy life in a joyful life. The Bible says happy other people whose God is the Lord, the Scripture reminds us in his presence is fullness of joy and others). There are pleasures forevermore so it's a happy life and for the last leg I would like you to know it's the only road the only road we like to think that all religions are true and all roads lead to God and only been here. People sometimes I we have a wide type. I believe that all religions basically teach the same thing and it really toilet down the role, essentially saying the same that sets us.

It shows you have not even given cursory look at the religions of the world because if you were to do that you we quickly discovered Pete don't all teach the same thing as an old fable that illustrates it this way was a man who lost his way and fell in the quicksand as he slowly was thinking. Confucius came walking by this man's dilemma and said Confucius say it is evident you should avoid such situations, and he continued on time. Pastor Mohammed came along and said alas it is the will of Allah, and he 21 and is what then Buddha came by and said this man's dilemma.

Illustration for many he too left and then Christie came by and said hey. Better luck next time. Then Jesus Christ came walking along saw the men situation reached under the quicksand and pulled that illustrates the differences Jesus Christ you and your life is. I can I can get you out of that measurement I can help your life. I can help you cheat, you can't do it on your own because Christianity is God's attempt to reach men and that is why the death of Jesus was so important.

That is why it is an insult to God to say, all roads lead to God or whatever you believe, it's fine as long as your sons.

There, if that were true. Do you think that God sent his only son I'd love and allow him to be whipped and beaten and tortured and murdered in cold blood as he was nailed to a Roman cross. You think that God will allow the judgment for the sin that we've all committed to be placed on his son would never once said, if there were other ways to him. You think that God would've allowed Jesus to die such a horrific death of all roads lead to God.

Of course not, because God knew there was no way that we could reach him in our own strength. There was no way we could be holy in our own ability. There was no way we could meet his righteous standards. He sent his son to die in our place and die for our sin in the Bible says there is not salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be say Jesus said I am the door by me.

If you enter it you shall be saved. Again Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life no man comes of the father but by me.

There is only one way for you to find the life of this full and rich on this earth and know for certain that you're going to have. It's a highway to heaven.

You can pull right up to the on ramp this very moment. Let me also say in closing.

There is also a highway to hell to be roadblock. If you're not on the highway to heaven. You're on the highway to hell again. The Bible says broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are that go that way. That's the way that's popular.

That's the way that most people are going, but you can have to make a choice and say which road do I want to be on right now you say all right, how do we get on the highway to heaven. How I get into this relationship with God like you know that I go to heaven when I die. How can I be forgiven of all of my sin. Number one, you need to realize you're a sinner, you need to admit that the Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Realize you can't do it on your own. Number two you a picture from that sin.

The Bible says that God has commanded people everywhere to repent. The word repent means to change your direction if you going the wrong way on a road. You do what you turn right and in the same way if you're going the wrong way of life. Do a U-turn yearly get going God's way. Instead of choosing death you choose life. Thirdly, you have received Jesus Christ into your life. Becoming a Christian is not simply believing in a creed. It's more than that, it say Lord coming to my life to be my Savior and my friend and my God and Jesus as he stands at the door and he knocks on the procure his voice and open the door he will come in only you could open the door of your heart and ask Christ to come inside. And lastly, you must do it now. The Bible says now is the time. Today is the day of salvation. So don't put this off.

Don't say you know what Greg maybe I'll do it next Sunday or next week.

All right about the you're just like the people I talked about the beginning of this message just kinda going in circles like this passing by. Now is the time. Don't put this all get on the happy road get on the holy road generally only wrong the highway to heaven. Greg Laurie five characteristics of the highway that leads to God's reward. And if you're not sure you're on the right road.

Pastor Greg will help you make a change in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes will hear during this Christmas season. We want to make available a special gift for you. Perhaps you heard of this. It's the critically acclaimed TV series called the chosen. It's a gripping cinematic portrayal of the life and ministry of Jesus is as though you're right there beside the Lord as you walk through life is the kind of series that will speak to believers and nonbelievers alike as directed by Dallas Jenkins, the son of left behind author Jerry Jenkins. He's produced over a dozen films for universal Lions gate pure affliction. Others made using the trailers for the chosen online and Graham Lott said she was moved to tears and to worship as you watch Pastor Gregor said literally millions of people have been getting to know the authentic Jesus. Through this series and we want to send season one of the chosen to you on DVD to thank you for your investment in the ministry of a new beginning. What a great Christmas gift and your donation helps us reach out with the gospel, not only through this program, but also through Pastor Greg's large-scale evangelistic events.

It's such an important time for that work. Hearts are hungry, you know even sought several weeks ago at SoCal harvest one person wrote us and said can you believe how many people are here. We came from Los Angeles and frankly we would've driven across the country to be here, we wouldn't have missed this for the world.

It's such an important time to reach out with the love of Christ and your investment makes that work possible and with your donation right now would like to send you season one of the chosen. You can donate securely online@harvest.org or write us at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 and we have operators who can speak with you by phone anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 pressure drag a few moments ago you spoke of how someone can accept God's offer of eternal life.

Could you help a person who wants to do that right now.

Yes, I'd be delighted to listen as you listen to this program today. Maybe some is been happening inside of your heart where your sensing.

I need to do this personally, but how do I do it and what oh I do, let me help you. It's very simple affected so simple.

You may be shocked God's relationship with him is just a prayer away.

The Bible says if you will call upon the name of the Lord you will be saved, so I'd like to lead you in the prayer we you do just that you call on the name of the Lord. This can be the moment when you change your eternal address literally from hell to heaven.

Just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for me, and rose again from the dead, Jesus I choose to follow you from this moment forward in your name I pray. Amen. I know it's such a simple short prayer but you just called on the name of the Lord, and you know what he heard that prayer if you meant that prayer in your heart, he answered that prayer now let me help you to get started on the right foot in your new life in Jesus Christ.

The greatest adventure awaits you. Life of walking with God. I want to send you what we call a new believers growth pack that includes the new believers Bible and a whole lot more let me be the first to see the you congratulations and welcome to the family of God yet to get that free new believers growth pack. Just ask for it if you prayed along with Pastor Greg to receive Christ today will be glad to send 1 Your Way writers had a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 call us anytime again at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click know God. Next time will be reminded of the importance of loving God with all our hearts and discover the benefits of that kind of devotion. Join us here in the new beginning with Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie new beginning as a podcast, made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If Michelle has impacted your life.

Share your story leverage you on your favorite podcast and help others find help