S54P2 – Linchpins of the faith: one way
John 5:36-40
But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
The three explorers were given the same instructions. The only way past the mountain was to climb over it. Although they were not native to that land, they thought that there must be another way. The mountain was too big, and it would take too much time and effort to climb. One man decided to fashion a raft and drift down the river that appeared to go around the rocky beast. What he did not know was that a great waterfall lay beyond the first bend, and he met his end in the lagoon below. The second man spotted what he thought was a tunnel that bore through the mountain and decided to take his chances. What he found was an endless maze of dark caves and passageways, and he never saw the light of day again. The third man put his hope in what the natives told him. As he made his way to the summit, he found it to be much less of a burden than he had expected. Only he came to know the world on the other side, and the climb was more than worth it.
Jesus is the only way to the Father. He said himself that He is the way, the truth and the life. No one can approach the Father except through him. This is a simple concept, yet it is so difficult for many people to accept. The issue is the mountain before us in this journey of our faith. That is the mountain of humility, obedience and self-sacrifice. Our human condition desires that we be autonomous and in control of ourselves. This makes it difficult to relinquish the idea of ownership over self and allow God to take the reins in life. People will seek all kinds of ways to make it without him, but those ways lead to destruction. Relinquishing everything we are and everything we have to our Savior and letting him lead our lives can seem huge and scary because we do not know what lies ahead. God knows this, and He provides a promise to comfort us.
The yoke of the Savior is easy, and his burden is light. If we heed scripture and live according to God’s instructions, we will find that this promise is true. The difficulty we have with the uncertainty of letting another choose our path will begin to fade as we see how God ordains our steps. Yes, attempting to reach the summit in our own strength would be completely terrifying and impossible, but we do not climb alone. There is only one way there, and we cannot live out this faith unless we believe and practice this fundamental truth. The shortcuts take us nowhere, and man’s fractured plans do no better. The only way to success and victory in life is through Jesus Christ. Father, search us and show us if we have allowed ourselves to meander on other paths, and correct us in gentleness and love.