When my husband travels, he always prepares his way by using Google maps to map out his destination. After he first puts in his destination, he likes to see his options on the different routes that he can choose from to take. Google maps as you may know inevitably offers multiple ways to arrive at most any destination.
The options offered may include the “avoid highways” route, the “tolls required” option, or the “fastest route.” While Google Maps lets him be in the driver’s seat, literally and figuratively, it offers him many different ways to get to where he wants to go.
Many people believe that salvation works like Google Maps. While they may believe in heaven as a final destination, they believe that there are many ways to get there. Most people would tell you that they want to go to heaven when they die, yet they believe that there are multiple ways to get there, and they simply are free to choose the one that they prefer. This sounds great, however according to the Word of God it is not true.
While teaching his disciples concerning the eternal passageway to heaven in John 14, Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus in verse 5 asked the question (that was probably on all of the disciple's mind), “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”. In other words he meant, "we don’t know the destination, so how are we to know the route?".
Jesus answered Thomas in verse 6 by proclaiming, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In other words, there are no options on the route to eternal life, there is only one way, and Jesus is that way. Jesus didn’t say he would show them a way or that he would merely pave a path, but he said that he himself is the way. In John 12:46 Jesus proclaims "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." Yes, he even lights the way for us to find salvation through him, as we put our trust in him and believe that he is the truth and the way.
Jesus’s answer in verse 6 is astounding: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” His answer is clear and exclusive; no one will come to the Father any other way. Because Jesus had already told his disciples that he and the Father are one in John 10:30. His answer to Thomas declared that he, Jesus, was and is the standard for both, the destination and the route to heaven.
“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. The word “narrow” is offensive to many. Today we live in an age of tolerance, except tolerance for what Jesus commands in Scripture. Society will tell us to “believe anything we want to believe.” But I can assure you that people have no authority to lower the standards that have been put in place by the God of the universe and the Savior of men’s souls. There is no bargaining with Him. Jesus confirmed that on the cross when he said, "It is finished".
Jesus is life. He is the author of life according to Acts 3:15. And he came to give his life for us and to us. Remarkably, Life himself made the way for us to have life through his death. Because Jesus willingly went into a tomb, he paved the way, the only way, to the other side of the tomb for all who believe in him.
Where do you place your eternal hope and choice to be? While mapping out your destination, which route will you take, it's your choice, but remember there is only one way and his name is Jesus. Believe in him and live.
Hold Fast, -Bren
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