Day 315.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV)
As much as people may want to embrace the cultural value of inclusiveness and not keep anyone out of heaven, Jesus says differently. There is only one way to heaven and that is through faith in him. You might argue that that seems narrow minded. You might even point out that heaven will be filled with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. The latter is true. Heaven will be populated with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. But they will all come through faith in Jesus. They must abandon faith in anything else. Is this narrow minded? Not at all, it is merciful! Without Jesus there would be no human in heaven. We are all deserving of death, not his favor. Jesus is God’s provision for sinners. He came to seek and save the lost so that some might indeed spend eternity with the Father. But this gift is only for those whom God has given faith to believe that it is not their own goodness but Christ’s righteousness that can get them there. The religions of the world encourage moral living, assuming that it is the righteousness that you give to God that will earn you a place. But no one’s righteousness can do that. There is a debt owed that no amount of moral living can pay. Only death can pay that debt! Only Christianity shows us that it is not us giving our righteousness to God, but God in Christ giving his righteousness to us that saves us! His death pays the debt and his righteousness grants us life with God for eternity! Far from being exclusive, Christianity is inclusive. Because God provides for all peoples to be saved through faith in Him.
Lord, would you forgive my unbelief and wash away any false hope I might have that is tied to my goodness or promised goodness.
