The Way

I am the way . . . – John 14:6

In 2015, 72% of Americans believed there was a heaven.  Unfortunately, their definition of heaven was, “a place where good people who have led good lives get to go.”  The Bible is clear, “All have sinned,” (Romans 3:23), and “there is no one good.” (Mark 10:18)  It is also clear on the fact that if you are to inherit (not earn) eternal life, Jesus is the only way.

I don’t really know why this is such a problem for so many.  Most people don’t have a problem with Jesus being away, they just don’t want Him to be theway.  Theway implies that there is no other way.  Away suggests that Jesus may be right for you, but I can choose another path to get to the same destination.

I guess it all goes back to being able to do what we want to do.  The Bible says that we love darkness (John 3:19).  It is true that we gravitate toward the darkness with no effort at all.  Recently, I have been going through this awful kind of spiritual depression.  I’m used to spiritual attacks, but this one feels like a new tactic of the darkness.  The worst part of it has been my lack of desire for God, His Word, and other spiritual things.  At first, I tried to muscle through it, almost like saying “By God, if I don’t feel like it, I’m just going to make myself do it anyway.”

That didn’t help.

So, I did something that I’m not sure I’ve done, especially since becoming a preacher.  I just told God exactly how I felt.  I told Him I didn’t desire Him.  I told Him that the Word wasn’t alive to me.  I told Him that I was tired and didn’t even feel like He could use me anymore.  Then, I asked Him to please draw me back to Him.

There was no magic wand waved.  For weeks, I just did whatever.  I went to more movies in a week than I probably went to all of the previous year. I started studying the stock market, reading article after article of this one particular stock.  I started listening to my old favorite non-Christian songs.  I started getting really serious about playing golf.  I just started doing stuff that I absolutely knew had zero eternal value. Days and days passed and my mind was just numb to spiritual things.

Then, all of a sudden, I found myself alone.  My mind wasn’t thinking about doing anything really.  I just missed God so much.  I missed being alone with Him.  I missed His Word.  I wondered how in the world He does what He does to men’s hearts to just flip that switch in me like that.  I just hung out with Him.  Two hours went by and it felt like just a few minutes.  I could not stop thanking Him for really being the author and finisher of my faith.  (Hebrews 12:2)

I guess I say all that to say this:  I’m so glad He is the way.  I’m so glad that my wishy-washy behavior, and maybe more importantly, my wishy-washy performance as a Christian is not what is going to grant me entrance into the kingdom. All I need to do is grab a hold of Him and absolutely never let go.

Have you grabbed a hold of Him?

He is the only way.

Later

Adam