One Way

Happy New Year!

Christmas has been celebrated, the gifts opened, and families are back to "normal". Now we can look ahead to 2014. I pray it is a good year for everyone. We will be heading up to Lake George for a few days this week.

Once again, I have heard this comment: "There are many ways to God".

Why is it so hard to understand Jesus' statement, when he says, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me?"

May I submit this thought to you? Every "religion" or "pathway to God" that people propose in the place of following Jesus, is nothing more than man trying to get to heaven by being "good enough" to please God.

The only way to be saved from our sin and receive eternal life, is when we stop trying to please God by being "good', and turn to Him in brokenness, confessing our sin and turning from it. He will certainly hear and forgive us. The next step then, is to begin to live for him out of love and gratitude for what he has done. We must get to the place of the hymn writer: "In my hand no price I bring. Only to Thy cross I cling.”*

"For it is by grace you are saved, not by works, so that no man can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

If you should die tomorrow without having placed your faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation, you will not go to heaven, no matter how good you have been. That is the word of God, not something Pastor Jerry just made up. "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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" (John 3:16-18).

I'm saddened when I hear those "many paths" statements, because there are so many people who believe them. The sad fact is, they are believing a lie.

Will you come to Him today? You can start the new year with the sure knowledge of an eternity in heaven with the Lord Jesus when your earthly life is over.

In His love,

Pastor Jerry

* [Rock of Ages (August M. Toplady)]