It's Not Your Way

Jesus told us in John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and He followed that by claiming that no one can come to God without going through Him. This common and familiar verse quoted by so many is incredibly powerful. The first statement is that Jesus Christ is THE way to God. How can this be with so many religions claiming to have a piece of the God pie. Our relativistic culture tells us that there are many ways to get to God, all of them legitimate though they may differ dramatically in their methodology. All one must do is pick your personal path and go to it. the 2008 Pew forum on religion showed that 48% of "born again" or "evangelical" Christians believe that there are many ways to God. Of that 48%, 33% believed that even atheism could lead one to God (figure that one out). In stark contrast to our society's teachings, Jesus claims that He alone is the way to God. One could also say that Jesus exemplifies for us the way to God. How did Jesus live? What is the way of God? "For God so loved. . ." John tells us that if we don't love we can't know God "for God is love." We can see this love clearly displayed for us in the life and ministry of Christ. Based on the example of Christ, therefore, if we are to come to God we must love. Discussing coming to God, Jesus gave us a fantastic illustration in the parables. In Matthew 13:44 Jesus says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." In this brief parable we can notice three things about coming to God. First, that we must come with a searching attitude. Notice the man was looking for a treasure. Are we looking for a right and real relationship with God, or simply a "get out of Hell free" card? How many have come to Christ flippantly, simply looking for some enhancement to their life (health, wealth, and prosperity), and have missed the whole point? Secondly, we must come recognizing the value of what we are seeking. Jesus is the ONLY WAY to God. He is not one of many ways, or even one of a few ways, He is the only way. Salvation can be found in no other religion or teaching, only in Christ. Hell will not be escaped through any ritual, membership, or material acquisition, it is only in Christ. We must recognize the value of a relationship with Christ. Lastly, we must come to God with a total commitment. Notice this man sold EVERYTHING to acquire this treasure. We must understand that when we come to God we are not "trying" this God-thing out for a while and if it doesn't work then we can try something else. "If any man will come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." Coming to God is on His standards not on ours. Have you come to Jesus? If not you can be guaranteed that you will not find God any other way.