The Only Way
Years ago, I carpooled with a lovely woman from Iran whose young son suffered from asthma. Frightened as she watched him struggle to breathe, she shared that she had prayed to every god she knew for his healing. One day, during the Christmas season, even though she was a Muslim, she wrote a letter to Jesus, rolled it up, and placed it in a small basket. She hung the basket on the Christmas tree that her children had persuaded her to erect. Now it was sometime later, and her son amazingly had not suffered another attack. So, who is this Jesus who has the power to do what other gods cannot?
He is the Way—the only way to God. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Yet, in our world permeated by political correctness, the cry is heard that there are many ways to God. From world religions to liberal theologians to daytime talk show hosts to the man on the street, the refrain remains the same—surely, you do not believe that Jesus is the only way to God. Somehow, our pluralistic society finds the exclusiveness of faith in Christ as our only way to heaven very narrow-minded and highly offensive. Even evangelical Christians have fallen into this mind-set. Pew Research Forum on Politics and Religion has reported that 57 percent of evangelicals do not believe that Jesus is the only way to God.[i] How can we as Christians succumb to such a fallacy? Jesus is not just one option that will ultimately lead to God, He is the only way.
Scripture is clear that we are not free to choose our own way to God. Peter adamantly stated, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus instructed us to enter through the narrow gate; He is that gate (see Matthew 7:13-14). We are not free to reach God through Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, the New Age movement, or any of the other ways offered. Though a popular theme now, all roads do not lead to the same God.
Jesus alone is the way of salvation—the Only Way to God. Worship Him!
Lord Jesus, thank You for providing my way to the Father. Amen.
[i] The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, “Report 2: Religious Beliefs & Practices / Social & Political Views,” http://religions.pewforum.org/reports#, accessed October 15, 2010.
