One Way

 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6

Driving for 17 hours over two days, gives you time to think whilst you are dodging semis and impatient travelers. There is spiritual context all around us - but we have to be paying attention. In fact, my view is  that everything has spiritual context? My thoughts were focused on a recent conversation having to do with other, well intentioned religions.  Generally there are 6 (six) types of people when it comes to faith. 1)Those who don't want to have anything to do with any god - they are a god unto themselves and consider themselves as no different than their pet dog. 2)Those who believe that there is something beyond creation but don't acknowledge an intelligent creator.  3)Those that believe that there is a spiritual dimension but attribute the lordship of that dimension to carious lesser gods. 4)Those who acknowledge that there is a Creator God but deny that He has intervened by sending His Son to restore a lost relationship. 5)Those who acknowledge that a person existed, who was a great prophet, but was not the God-sent Son of God. 6) And those who acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God - first born among many to follow by faith.

(Heads up! - lots of scripture follows which I encourage you to read and not just scan. You may think, 'I know all of this stuff' Great! Then my hope is that you will use that knowledge as you live out your new life and keep it in mind as you watch a world struggling to find its way through the generations.)

Scripture makes it pretty clear that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Driving to Phoenix, at times, the mapping software offered alternate routes - routes that would help us avoid delays along the way. The route is pretty simple - get on I-10 in Houston and stay on it until you get off in Phoenix. There are detours you can take to avoid traffic jams - but with God there are no alternate routes. There is only one "road to heaven", one truth, one source of eternal life and access to Father God.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:16-18

God did not send a prophet to redeem the world. No - a man, born from Adam's seed could not offer anything to God that was not tainted by sin. I remember my dad telling me to not smoke as he smoked a cigarette. What can sinful man offer to sinners? A drowning man trying to save another drowning man. So God had to send His Son. The truth is pretty clear - reject Christ and you reject heaven.

"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.'" - Matthew 16:13-18

The fact that Jesus is who He says He is was revealed to Peter and is revealed to us by God, the Father through the Spirit. It is a Spiritual awakening of the heart. I don't know why only some will experience that epiphany of faith (the moment when you suddenly understand, or suddenly become conscious of who Jesus is and the you are a sinner in need of a Savior) It is a supernatural event.

"Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected (Jesus) has become the chief cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22)  This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes?" - Matthew 21:42

Peter's proclamation in Matthew 16 is when Jesus gave Simon Bar-Jonah (son of Jonah) a new name, Peter, which means "little rock or pebble" in deference to the truth of who Jesus is which is the Cornerstone of the Church - the Body of Christ. The way , the truth the life.

"For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, 'The man who does those things shall live by them.' But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, 'Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? ' (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, ' Who will descend into the abyss? ' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.'" - Romans 10:6-11

Confession and Belief.  Salvation - redemption - comes to the one who believes by faith - and that  comes from spiritual revelation. Many other religions are founded on the assumption that we must work to gain God's favor and perhaps a way to heaven when the opposite is true.  

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:4-10

There is nothing we can do to overcome the "sinful divide" between us and God. Faith in Jesus is the only way. Rejecting Jesus is to reject our only chance of redemption.

You will meet many who profess Jesus, but deny who He is.  When someone says they believe in Jesus, you must take them to the scripture - not an opinion of someone else. You must always ask "Who do you say that Jesus is?" That is the litmus test for true faith - not something other than Jesus - not Jesus plus something - just Jesus. But there are many who .... 

"having a form of godliness, but denying its power (that being Jesus as the Christ)" - 2 Timothy 3:5

We must continue to stand firm on our faith and be a witness to the Way, and Truth and Life. Oh how I wish that everyone would see and believe, like Thomas. But the truth is, not all will believe. There will be sheep and goats.  In fact - most won't. Does that trouble you like it does me? 

“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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone