Good Morning Meetpastordan Readers…I had another topic in mind for posting today, but as so frequently happens, I was strongly urged to move in another direction. I started asking for direction last Thursday, but as sometimes happens, I wasn’t hearing much from my intended source. So, in the interim, I came up with my own idea. It seemed like a good topic, but this morning this new theme took root in my head, and completely blotted out my plan. “OK, God, I get it.” Then I smiled and said aloud, “You certainly do move in mysterious ways.”
When I look at the psychological and physical effects of the mayhem that is plaguing our great country right now, I must admit I shake my head in disappointment. Addiction rates are soaring; depression and anxiety are running rampant; fear is holding people captive; divorce rates are at new heights, and suicides statistics, especially among veterans, is staggering. When I ask myself, “Why is this happening?”; I keep coming up with the same answer. “People feel hopeless, or victimized.” We all need to feel loved, accepted, significant and secure. If we are lacking in these areas, it is easy to turn to counterfeit solutions such as drugs, alcohol, sex, money, power, or other “lies” that promise to fill those proverbial “holes in our souls.” I know that to be true, because in my previous life, I was one of the many who drank the “world’s Kool-Aid”.
What promised to be “the answer” took me to new depths of despair. While the lies might do “the trick” for a while, they eventually run their course and we have to keep returning to the watering-hole for another “fix”. Looking back on my own dilemma, I have come to believe that all people are really searching for the same joy and fulfillment, but unfortunately, they’ve been looking in all the wrong places. Today I have found THE answer! And THE answer revealed this Truth: “I am the way, the Truth, and the life…” (John 14:6) I will spend the rest of the blog unpacking this first part of the Scripture before I put it all together. I hope this will help to bring clarity to these words.
Almost everyone has heard of Jesus Christ. To some, He is their Savior; to others He was a philosopher or a teacher; still to others, He is a folk legend. Most people have heard the Christmas story, and the Easter story, but other than these well-known stories, how many people really claim to know Him? These stories reveal the fulfillment of God’s plan that was put into place even before the world (and Man) was created, but Jesus’ own description of Himself (above paragraph, John 14:6) gives us a more complete picture.
“I am the way”. What did Jesus mean when He made that statement? No doubt, Man had a hard time adhering to God’s Law. From the time The Law was given on Mt. Sinai until Jesus made His famous statement, Man proved himself totally incapable of adhering to God’s Ten Commandments. The penalty for breaking these commandments (also known as “sinning”) was death, both physical and spiritual death. Under the Old Covenant (and remember, Jesus was living under the Old Covenant), blood was required for the remission of sin. That was the whole purpose of the Old Testament sacrificial system. The blood of slain animals was sprinkled on the alters of sacrifice and on the people, and it covered the sins of the people until the next Day of Atonement. (Two things to note here. First, the blood of slain animals only covered the people’s sins. It did not signify forgiveness of sins. And secondly, the sacrifices had to be repeated annually.)
One of Jesus’ reasons for coming to earth as a mortal man was to replace the old sacrificial system. (FYI:That system was to be in place only until His coming.) He came to live the perfect, sin-free life, so He could be our perfect sacrifice. His perfect blood not only fulfilled the requirements of the Law, but also designated forgiveness of sins. Now that we are sin-free, we qualify to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If you are wondering, “Why is that?” I would say, “Because it is part of our inheritance for being in Christ. Jesus’ work on the cross opened our door to heaven.” He is THE way!
“I am the Truth”. One of Jesus’ names is “Word”. The Greek word for “Word” is “logos”, which means Truth (or reason). John 1:1 tells us: “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God.” Now substitute the name Jesus for “the Word”, and re-read that Scripture. Now, since “Word” means “Truth”, re-read that Scripture and substitute the “Truth”, for “the Word”. Doesn’t this juxtaposition of words expand your conception of Who Jesus really is? Now let me expand it even more.
John 1:14 tells us: “The Word (Truth) became flesh and dwelt among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. We have seen His glory, and the glory of the only Son of the Father.” Psalm 107:20: “He (God) sent His Word (Jesus) and healed us; He rescued us from the grave.” Colossians 2:2-3, “I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ Himself. In Him lay hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Truth) The same way God, Jesus and Holy Spirit (the Trinity) are interchangeable because they are one, the same can be said for Jesus, Word, and Truth. Jesus IS Truth (because he is the Word!)
“I am life”. Another reason for Jesus’ coming was to save sinners. He didn’t come to make bad people good, He came to restore life to dead people. To God’s dismay, His proudest creation was dead because of its disobedience and its many sins. But God Himself set the standard for entering through the pearly gates. He said, “I am holy, therefore you must be holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) This is reinforced in Revelation 21:27: “Nothing unclean will ever enter…only those whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life.” Romans 6:23 clearly presents both the bad news and the good news concerning this matter; “For the wages of sin is death, BUT the free gift from God is eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.”
Without a doubt, this Scripture is the most controversial in the entire Bible. While it is undoubtedly “the Truth”, many times people don’t want to hear the truth…especially since it’s as buttoned up and as air-tight as this one. So, let’s face it, God paid an incredible price for our salvation, and He didn’t wait for us to clean-up our act. No indeed! Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. Meditate on that truth for a while!
Now, allow me to present the full Scripture in all of its glory (or as some might read it, with it’s too exclusive (or threatening) overtones.
John 14:6: “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” This message demands that each of us make an eternal choice. It’s our time to exercise our free will.
Feel free to respond to this posting, and please “like” and share it with other social media friends.
May God Bless You Abundantly,
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
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