First Baptist Church, Jasper
The mother was very concerned. As a member of a church in metro Atlanta where I served she asked me to pray for her youngest adult child, Roy. Roy had made some really poor choices in his life. He was born into a wealthy family and had all the opportunities money could buy. He also had the blessing of being born into a family of believers. But Roy chose to rebel. He started using drugs and drinking heavily as a teen. I promised her that I would pay Roy a visit.
He was guarded as we talked. After some initial pleasantries, I got to the point. “Roy, I want to talk with you about your relationship with Jesus.” He interrupted me. “I believe Jesus is a good man, but I don’t believe He is the Son of God nor is He the only way to heaven.”
I’ve heard other people respond that it is narrow-minded to say that Jesus is the only way to God. “What about people who practice other religions? They don’t believe in Jesus, so is what they believe false?”
One difference in Christianity is the way God reaches out to us. In all other faiths, you must get your life together. You must keep certain rules. If you do, then maybe you can work your way to heaven or to God.
But in Christianity, the work is up to God, not us. He did it all for us. We are sinners in need of a Savior. God took the initiative because of His great love for us. He came to earth as a man and rescued us by taking the punishment that we earned. He died for us on the cross.
He did something for us that we could not do for ourselves. Jesus lived a perfect life here on this earth. He did not deserve to die for our sins. But He did it as a sacrifice for us.
He rose from the dead and is alive today and is offering us a gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
No other religion can say that its beliefs point to God taking the initiative to save us. He gave the gift of salvation. All we have to do is accept that free gift.
Have you met Christ?
Jesus says, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
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