Have you ever been workin’ on a project and trying to follow the instructions for repair of a certain part, and no matter how correctly you tried to go at it, it just wouldn’t come apart. For instance, trying to get a bearing off of a shaft can occasionally be super challenging.
I’d finally say something like, “Let’s go back to square one and think this thing over.” Yep, sometimes you just need to go back to square one. There’s just got to be more than one way, right? Yep, there’s times we need a complete do-over. Other times, you just need a good torch and a bigger hammer!
Back in the time of Jesus, people believed a bunch of different stuff. They believed in all sorts of gods… There was epicureans (devoted to pleasure and enjoyment – especially food) and stoics (indifferent to pain and pleasure, joy and grief). There were mysterious religions and downright pagan worship. Folks back then believed in all sorts of different stuff…a lot like today.
Today, I will say that most folks around here who, even though they don’t follow Jesus, believe God exists; but they may have their own version. And many will go so far as to believe Jesus is the Son of God; even if they don’t follow Him.
A few folks are even ok with the Holy Spirit. They reason He’s likely “out there” somewhere.
And they see that the Bible is God’s word, but they may not believe it is actually all from God.
And they may see the church as a way that believers come together and worship God. But many are convinced you have to get yourself pert’ neer perfect before attending. Not so.
But the one concept that people just can’t take is that salvation is found in Christ alone. In other words, the only way to God’s Heaven is through Jesus Christ alone. And it’s free!
Jesus makes it clear that there is only one way to heaven. He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Nobody comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Even Christians seem to have trouble with this one.
If you tell folks Jesus is the only way then you are going to be called intolerant, closed-minded, a bigot, backwards, outdated. They want to know how you could possibly suggest there is only one way to God’s Heaven.
I’ve been told even by people professing to be Christians, there are other religions out there, and they all have their own way. It doesn’t matter which way you believe… we’re all headed for the same place, some of us are just traveling a different trail.
I’m sorry folks, but Jesus made it clear. We all have sin and it keeps us from God! But God had a plan. He sent His Son, Jesus. He died on the cross to pay the price for your sins and mine.
And death having no hold, He went to Heaven to prepare our place with Him. There is only one trail – One Way, Jesus!
In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a crippled man, preached the good news, and they were arrested for it. They were told to stop preachn’ and healin’. But Peter told ‘em that they couldn’t stop.
They preached Jesus Christ, the one they crucified as Lord. By His name the man was healed.
And Peter went on to say, "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:11-12 nasb) Give your all to Jesus!
Choose Jesus, choose life! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And y’all KEEP PRAYIN’ for RAIN! Amen