Welcome to Van Life Devotions. Thanks for joining with us today. One of the most important reasons to follow Jesus is that He is the only way to God.
That might sound exclusive or even controversial in today’s world, where many believe that many paths lead to the same God, but the Bible makes it clear that there is one way, one truth, and one life — and that is found in Jesus Christ.
Jesus claimed to be the only Way. In the Bible, Jesus said about Himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV). Jesus didn't say He was a way. He said He was the way.
It is important to understand that a way to God was needed. The Bible says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23 NIV). God has a standard and everyone, me, you have fallen short of it. Sin is the barrier between us and God. No amount of being and doing good, rituals, or religious effort can remove that barrier. And so there needed a way.
Nearly every day I use my Google Maps. When I type in my destination it offers multiple ways to arrive at my journey’s end. There’s the “highways” route, the “avoid tolls” option, or the “fastest route.” Google Maps lets me be in the driver’s seat, literally and figuratively. I can choose my preferred way and can arrive at my destination any way I see fit.
Many say that they want to go to heaven when they die—heaven is their hoped-for eternal destination. Much of those same people believe that the route to heaven is like Google Maps—there are multiple paths to get there, and you are free to choose the one that you prefer. However, the Bible says that Jesus is the only way. It doesn’t say He would show them a way or that He would merely pave a path; he said that He Himself is the way.
Jesus became the way when He paid the penalty we deserved by dying on the cross. He is the perfect saviour that bridged the gap between you and God.
This is why you need to follow Jesus – so you can come to God and be accepted into His family.
You might be thinking that such a claim is exclusive. What about other religions? Don’t they offer a pathway to heaven? We do live in a culture where religious pluralism has become popular. If you are struggling with this, I encourage you to search the claims of Jesus and the teachings by His followers about His death and resurrection, asking if what He taught and did are truth?
For the first followers of Jesus, after spending three years listening to His teachings, witnessing His miracles, and experiencing His death and resurrection, they came to the belief that Jesus is the only way to God. They boldly told a group of religious leaders that, “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 4:12 NIV).
Why be a follower of Jesus? Because Jesus is the only way to God.
Jesus invites you to trust Him with this claim by following Him.
How can you become a follower of Jesus? Trust and obey. Trust in faith that Jesus is God’s Son who saved you on the cross. And follow Jesus as Lord by obeying His teachings.
I invite you to pray this prayer with me:
Father God.
I am sorry that I am a sinner.
Thank you for forgiving me on the cross.
In an age of religious pluralism, help me
to acknowledge that You are the only way.
Enable me to put my trust in You and
to obey Your teachings.
In Jesus’ name
Amen
David Moyes
