God has revealed our final destinations, heaven or hell, both in eternity. God is concerned about the route we choose because the route shows the destination we will arrive at. Worried, Moses said in Deuteronomy 30: 15 see, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity… Choose life so that you and your descendants may live. The ways are two, life or death.
Moses meant only God knows the true and right way. Jesus affirmed Moses’ caution in John 14: 6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Properly interpreted, Jesus is the only way to God; he speaks the truth about the way; the way leads to life; in Jesus is the only life; and without him, we shall miss the way that leads to life in God.
Are there other ways to God?
Jesus was aware of other alleged ways to God. Proverbs 14: 12; 16: 25 say there is a way that seems to be right, but in the end it is the way of death. Any way that is outside Jesus is a way of death in hell fire. Jesus said in John 10: 8-9 all who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
Only Jesus can attest to the way to God. He said in John 1: 18 no one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. Without a relationship with Christ, no one can show the true way to God. John 6: 46 says not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Jesus knows the way because he came from God. He said in John 8: 42 if God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Those who hate or detest Christ Jesus will miss their way to God.
How does scripture show the way?
Jesus said in John 16: 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father. Jesus did not only show that he knows the way back to God but that we report back to God when we leave this world. Hebrews 9: 27 says it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment. Upon death, we render an account of our lives to God. Matthew 12: 36 says I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter.
The way is by way of righteousness which leads to life. The fact of either is subject to God’s evaluation from our hearts. 1Timothy 4: 8 says for while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way. Hebrews 13: 7 says remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Regarding the way of recklessness, Matthew 7: 13-14 shows two ways, the narrow gate which leads to life; and the wide gate that leads to destruction (paraphrased). Verse 15 says beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
How to maintain or keep the way?
Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 3: 10-15 each must choose with care how to build on the foundation built. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ… because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. A good work will survive but a poor work will suffer loss (paraphrased).
We must remember that we are strangers in this world irrespective of what motivates our choices in life. Hebrews 11: 13-16 says all of these (Stalwarts of the Faith) died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland… they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. What is our choice of final destination? What way have we chosen? How have we kept the way? Jesus is ready for your call anytime any day anywhere.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, our choice of way to eternity may not lead us home because of sin and ignorance. Open our eyes to see the right way. Strengthen us to keep the right way in holiness. With joy help us to share your way with our lost ones so we may gladly lead them home. May we not be discouraged by the thorns along the way as foreigners and strangers in the world but as a people determined to reach our heavenly home. Let your grace see us through and with your light to lead us in your holy name, Amen!!
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