“Jesus said to him, ?I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'” John 14:6
Have you noticed that many people, and surprisingly some Christians, want to reconstruct the road to heaven? Some propose, “If we could get this thing out to four lanes, more people could get on. It’s too narrow as it is. Can’t we broaden the way a little bit?”
No way. Matthew 7:13-14 says “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
There’s one way to heaven and it’s the right way and it’s the only way. That kind of singularity is like fingernails on a chalkboard to our culture. “One way? Let’s offer many paths to God . . . Jesus, Mohammed, pick the one that’s best for you.” That’s man’s way — broad. God’s way is narrow — only through Christ.
This week on Walk in the Word, we’re in the series, Iraq, Islam, and the Middle East: Insights and Answers from God’s Word. I preached it a couple weeks ago at Harvest Bible Chapel. The series is intended to answer people’s questions about the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam. Today I want to focus on the bull’s eye of that issue: Will you believe Jesus is the only way to eternal salvation and that to deny Him is to choose eternal death and separation from God?
Whoa, some would say, That’s hard to hear. Does the Bible really teach this? Check out the Bible for yourself so you can be sure:
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not believe in the Son of God shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36)
“There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given to men, by which we must be saved.”(Acts 4:12)
“And this is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12)
And of course the well-known, pivotal verse, John 14:6, where Jesus said categorically, “I am the way, the truth, the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.”
Now, don’t picture Jesus in John 14:6 as some brutal gatekeeper who stands at the door and says This far and no further; nobody gets to the Father except through Me. That’s not the message. He’s saying, Come, come, this is the way, through Me. Jesus welcomes all who come to Him. He’s not blocking the path; He’s the door; He’s the way. He loves you and will receive you if you would come to Him sincerely.
It all comes down to this. “But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). Salvation, forgiveness, the gift of eternal life come through Jesus Christ. To whom? To all who believe. What do you believe about Jesus Christ? This is the issue upon which your eternity rests. By becoming a man and dying on a cross to pay the penalty for your sins, God has made a way so you can be forgiven. And you can be forgiven.
Is Jesus your Savior? Have you asked Him to forgive you? Can you look to a specific time in your life when you turned from your sin and embraced Christ by faith as God’s only provision for your forgiveness? It all comes down to this. You could know right now, if you would pray sincerely from your heart words just like these. Tell Him:
“God, I am a sinner. I acknowledge that I have broken Your law; I have missed the mark. I have failed You in many ways. But I believe that Jesus died for me. He paid the price of my sin. He purchased my forgiveness. I believe that.” Don’t stop there. Embrace Him as your own. Pray from your heart, “Lord, I receive You. I embrace You as my own Lord and Savior. I choose You. I choose life.”
If you pray that from your heart God will hear you. And God promises, “He who comes to Me, I will under no circumstances send away” (John 6:37). Isn’t that good news?
There is one and only road to God. It’s a narrow way and few walk down it. But Jesus Christ is calling out — I am the way! I am the only way to life! Come to Me!
All of life comes down to what road you’re on . . . and your eternal destination.
I proclaim to you the incomparable, unfailing, surpassing supremacy of Jesus Christ in all things. Let’s embrace Him with our whole hearts and live for Him this week.
Copyright 2004 – Walk in the Word. Used by permission. Dr. James MacDonald is the Bible teacher on the daily national radio program Walk in the Word. If you enjoyed this devotional, visit us weekly at walkintheword.com
[schemaapprating]
