Considerations

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

How do you like your fish sandwich? On my island home of Bermuda, the answers will vary as there are a variety of ways you can create a fish sandwich. Mine is toasted whole wheat bread with coleslaw, tomato and tartar sauce. Others like raisin bread with lettuce and tomato. The combinations are endless as it’s all about what the individual likes. There is really no one way to eat a fish sandwich.

As we talk about fish sandwiches, what comes to mind is the Burger King slogan “Have it your way.” It has recently been upgraded to “You Rule.” Both slogans reflect how you can walk into Burger King and personalize your order to suit your taste. You are not bound by a menu or the chef in the kitchen. Your feelings, opinions, desires, wants, tastes, etc. have creative control for you to freely come up with whatever meal will satisfy you in that moment. As a cook in the kitchen, that’s more work for you but the end result is a very happy customer who got what they wanted.

Jesus: God’s Way

But we cannot expect to have such creative control at all times; in particular when it comes to the things of God. God has made it very clear in His word that there is no room for creative control when it comes to how we can have a relationship with Him. We don’t have the option to have it our way nor do we rule when it comes to how we choose to get to God. Besides our our focal verse of John 14:6, here are a few other verses that convey the singular way God has provided for us to know Him:

• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
• Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)
• And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12)
• For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5)

However, we are living in times when many believe that they do have creative control in having a relationship with God. That is, they can find their own paths to God and that what His word says of one way to Him is obsolete and narrow-minded. Yes it is narrow-minded as confirmed in the scripture verses below:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” 
(Matthew 7:13-14)

But it is definitely not obsolete though many have chosen to believe that the way through Jesus Christ is null and void and no longer relevant:

Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12)

Jesus: The One True Way

For those of us who adhere to the narrow road of Jesus Christ that God has provided as a means to a relationship with Him, let us not get caught up in the worldly mindset of personalizing the way to God. It’s not Jesus plus something else. It’s not Jesus is one of many ways. It’s not creating your own path to God. And as we adhere to the truth that Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:6), let us be courageous to share this truth with others who are being deceived to believe otherwise. 

Personally, I have really struggled seeing others accept this worldly mindset that Jesus is no longer the viable pathway to God despite God’s word being very clear that Jesus is the only way. So many, including those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, are subscribing to the broad view that Jesus is no longer sufficient as a means to get to God. And so, the journey began three years ago to help those who struggle to see Jesus as who He is: the be all and end all God has given the world to know Him. Below is the link to a book that the Lord guided me to write about this issue of Jesus being the answer God has provided. 

In the book titled, ‘Jesus: Is He Really the Be All and End All?’, readers will be taken through the book of John to discover how Jesus is not just a good man who walked the earth but the One who existed from the beginning of time who came to earth as a man to show us the way to God, the Father. It is written using questions to help the reader identify their current stance about Jesus and consider how their stance matches up to what God says in His word. Every chapter ends with a reflection time where one can further consider the content of the chapter and journal their thoughts.

Maybe this book can help you solidify your belief that Jesus is the be all and end all and needs no accompaniments. Or perhaps you have loved ones who could benefit from reading this book to encourage them to see what God says in His word about who Jesus is, why He was sent and provide them with an opportunity to know Jesus as their Saviour personally. Either way, whether through this Considerations post or through the book, the hope is for all to consider what the word of God says when it comes to Jesus Christ: 

 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NLT)

NOTE: To read more about the upcoming book, Jesus: Is He Really the Be All and End All?, please go to Considerations Store page, the FB page or directly to Amazon.com. Pre-sales are available before it is released on August 13th.