You are traveling the road of your life. And if you are like me, you have had plenty of restless nights, wondering what it all means.
Happy times, and awful times. The love and pain, pride and shame, success and deep regrets.
Do you wish you could do some parts over?
You can’t change the past, but did you know that you can start life over again, right now?
Seriously. A complete reset.
Let me explain how this is possible.
God’s word points to the Way.
The Bible—this amazing, insightful and revealing compilation of approximately 6,000 years of God’s interaction with humanity.
It promises a wild ride for the reader. Uncensored, without compromise and without apology, it speaks of the goodness and of the inherent evils in each of us. And all the while, it is agonizingly real. It has to be.
The Bible is the most extraordinary revelation of ourselves, seen and written from a higher perspective—from the Creator God’s point of view, not our own.
Thus, it never marvels in mankind’s ability to put his best foot forward. It doesn’t put a nice face upon man’s own human efforts. And it doesn’t attempt to paint a pretty picture of events.
Inscribed by men with pen in hand, the 66 books of the Bible were initiated by God’s leading, and the words were given by God’s inspiration.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)
By the power and presence of God’s own Spirit, He interacted with and breathed upon the hearts and minds of these writers—men who longed for, lived for, and even died for the opportunity to know a Savior-God first hand.
If it had simply been written by their creative minds and talents, surely half of the Bible’s contents would have been left out as too controversial. Too offensive. Or too religious. Too violent. Or too emotional. Certainly, too something.
But the Bible never holds anything back. God didn’t hold back, in His wondrous love letter to us. Interspersed throughout the accounts of man’s many failings, God reveals His great love and compassion for us.
And yet for many, sadly, much of it seems just too unbelievable to be believed. The Word of God is often perceived as a book of stories, or just a history lesson.
But much more than history, it is His Story. It is your story.
Because this record of human events was directly inspired by God Himself—the One who understands and oversees all events from an eternal perspective—we are given the distinct privilege of viewing a panorama of God’s purposes: past, present and future.
This means that your purpose is in it. Your destiny is in it. God’s personal message to you is in it.
This remarkable record is like no other book ever written. It is like no other book that could be written.
And its message was written just for you.
Christ Jesus created the Way.
He was the greatest event ever to take place within all of human history.
In Jewish terms, He was the promised Messiah, which in Greek means, “Christ.” The savior of all mankind from Sin. He was the good news of the Kingdom of God coming down to man. The “Immanuel”—God with us.
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4)
Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of all that came before Him, the old testament prophets long foretelling His coming. And just as they had reported, He entered our world—His world—born in the “likeness of sinful flesh” and in the fullness of time.
Right on time. At the exact time in human history to fulfill God’s great and extraordinary plans for us all.
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)
This verse foretells of the Savior who would make the way for humanity—the prisoners of Sin—to escape our sinful fate of death. A savior—good news for a fallen mankind.
It reveals the reasons He would need to come in human form, and walk among His creation—living and dying for us by enduring a torturous death of crucifixion upon a brutal cross. It’s nothing short of miraculous.
Because of Him, the saving freedom we would all need was placed within reach of anyone who would willingly and trustingly reach out to Him.
Almighty God and His great love for us, and in His perfect wisdom, would reveal the good news to a lost and dying world—by providing His perfect plan of escape, from the snare of sin.
There, contained within this lamb of God—this Jesus, God the Son—was God’s incredible plan for our salvation from sin’s eternal death sentence.
There is only one Way.
It was perfect. Flawless in design, yet simple. You wouldn’t need to be lawyer to understand it. It was available to everyone—whoever desired to have it.
Anyone could access it. It was freely given. Completely paying for, and miraculously resolving, the Sin issue that plagued all of fallen humanity.
But in no uncertain terms, there would be only one escape route. Just one.
Peter pointed to it emphatically, after a man was healed:
“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)
There—within the midst of all the highways of every lifetime—was the passageway.
No other way would be provided, ever, that could overcome the condemning curse of sin’s ravage upon humankind.
One passageway to freedom, for anyone willing to find it.
One Door.
“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:7, 9-10)
Christ Jesus clearly identifies Himself as that Door. He doesn’t just hold the door, or keep the door—He is The Door.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
Again, Jesus tells us plainly that He is the only way to God the Father—the One Passageway into the Kingdom of Heaven.
There was and is nothing, and no one, like Him. Nothing or no one that came before Him, or since.
Truly, there is no other Savior.
There is no other Name.
And there is no other way for you to be saved.
The Way is your choice.
Let me tell you about my own personal experience in finding Jesus Christ, and choosing to come to Him.
It may have been an early summer’s day, but my birth wasn’t going to be any picnic for Mom. No doubt, my coming into this world caused her plenty of pain. Being born almost always causes someone else’s pain, you know.
My time had come to join the rest of my generation upon the earth. I was here, purposed by the creator of all things, and destined to fulfill my part in all that God had planned to do through my life. But of course, I didn’t know any of those things yet.
Like every brand new baby born before me, I arrived in my “as is” condition: wet and naked, marred and corrupted with the plague of Sin and fallen humanity.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10)
These passages of scripture clearly express the fallen state of all humankind, from God’s point of view. All have sinned, and all must be redeemed again. All share in the curse of Adam’s Sin of disobedience before God.
The fallen nature is the nature of us all, at birth. And outside of God’s saving plan, no one is safe from judgement. Not one of us escapes it.
I was twelve when the news of the gospel finally hit home, as my heart was confronted by what I heard. I now understood that something was terribly wrong with me. I was in a dangerous place.
And I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to fix it by myself. Not without some miracle of God’s intervention.
It was kind of like getting the news that you have stage 4 cancer. The prognosis is certain death. But then the doctor kindly explains that there is just one lifesaving procedure available, which he can perform. But he doesn’t attempt to sugarcoat the news. This will be a very painful procedure.
I would need to gather all of my courage. I would need to have faith to endure it. and I would need to put my complete trust in the surgeon’s abilities. If I survived, I would be like new. I would be better than new. In fact, I would live forever.
This is what Jesus Christ does for any one of us who trust Him to heal our sin-diseased lives. He takes us, and makes us new in Him.
It took me another year or so, to finally accept my part in God’s own love story for mankind. I wasn’t being stubborn. I was actually just afraid.
I had skirted around it and wandered past it more than enough times, trying to justify myself—searching for some other, easier way. Something less painful. Less humiliating. Less revealing.
It’s funny how we can hang on to an old life even when we know it isn’t any good for us. But finally, I received what Jesus so mercifully held out to me—Himself.
The perfect One, given for the broken one. I ran to Him. I entered through that Door—that passageway to God’s precious freedom.
And I became “born again.”
The Way results in new birth.
Have you ever heard the old Christian phrase, “washed in the blood?” It seems so strange at first. How can anyone hope to be cleansed by a blood bath? It sounds so messy.
But strangely enough, when we consider what we see at childbirth—a newborn person coming into the light of life, covered with its mothers blood—we see a connection with the Savior, Jesus Christ.
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:6-7)
Christ Jesus is literally the passageway we are birthed through—by his own blood, into new birth—into the eternal kingdom of God.
And like the birth canal, the Way into God’s kingdom is a narrow place.
The Way could be easily overlooked by eyes set upon the cares and concerns of a distracted life. The Way seems insignificant to the many who continue busily upon their own way. And it’s hidden from those who are too high-minded to believe it exists.
The Way is in a place that’s much too difficult to traverse in one’s own strength. It must be surrendered to. It’s much too tight to swagger into, and the inflated ego can never fit.
So small is this passageway, with pressure on every side. The pain and guilt of sin and death compresses, heavy and stifling. Only the humbled soul, willing to surrender to the squeeze of this journey, is passed through to freedom.
It is the narrow Way, in the nakedness of God’s exposing truth. Those dressed to impress—who identify with their wealth, status, success or position—avoid its abasement.
The Way leaves no room for anything else. No baggage. No accomplishments. No self worth. All self importance must fall. All must be left behind to enter in.
It is the narrowest of narrow places. It can’t be bought, or borrowed. It can’t be bargained for. It will not be compromised.
There is no alternative but to be born again. To come forth in sorrow and repentant surrender, into the open arms of your Father, who is eagerly waiting on the other side.
He waits for that newborn little child—who is full of faith, wrapped in the blanket of humility, and reaching out to be held by Love.
Never be to the same again.
The Way leads to freedom.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
As we pass through the portal of new birth, we are clothed in newness of life, and restored.
Reborn, recreated, and relocated—from the darkness of this world, into the light-flooded expanse of God’s eternal kingdom—with a bright-and-shiny, new identity. A God-identity: His, forever.
And much like the demon possessed man in the Bible, who was delivered and set free at Jesus’ command, we are given freedom and rest, and brought into our right mind.
I’m not the same person I once was. I was shackled by the lies of this world, and defeated by the thoughts I believed about myself.
But now I’m thrilled to be set free by God, who wanted, watched, and waited for me to be His. As the Door, Jesus patiently held Himself open for me, until I passed through to freedom.
Has He been patiently holding Himself open for you?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)
The Greek words “acceptable year” in the verse above express a pleasing time for God—where His salvation and favor are poured out. Jesus heals those with broken hearts, sets the captives free, and gives liberty to those who are “bruised.” And He loves it.
He feels pure joy at the sight of you coming to the Door, and He gives you His joy when you receive Him. His joy is part of the freedom that He so desires to give you.
Maybe you are brokenhearted, feel trapped, or “bruised” by your life experiences. Your burdens are all taken upon Christ, when you take the Way.
No one is able to fully explain this kind of freedom, and it just doesn’t seem humanly possible.
Because it’s not.
It’s your freedom, and the Lord Jesus Christ died so that you may receive it.
Will you?
Few will follow the Way.
“Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, parenthesis mine)
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24)
What startling words from the Lord.
Many will seek, but comparatively “few” will find the Door. The escape. The passageway—the True Living God.
Possibly, the biggest lie ever told to humankind was that all roads, beliefs and religions are just different pathways to the same god. Nothing could be further from the truth, and nothing could be further from God’s passageway to freedom.
“And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” (Luke 6:39)
So many people are blindly following someone else’s lead, only to find out one day that they don’t know where they’re going, either.
Like a trail of ants looking for food, they each follow whoever happens to be in front of them. Each one is misplacing their trust—depending on the others, assuming that they know where they are going.
Don’t follow those who cannot see.
“In him (Christ Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:4-5, parenthesis mine)
The darkness. No wonder so many are so lost. The masses—busily wandering and scurrying around—don’t understand the light.
Maybe you have been wandering around and secretly searching—hoping to find God. We all have a hunger within, to find Him—even when we don’t yet understand what we’re feeling.
That hunger makes people rush around and fill their lives with all kinds of things—anything to avoid the anxiety of a lost life, and a road without any real hope.
Anything to fill the emptiness of that God-shaped hole in their heart.
It’s like like a big, beautiful, mystical puzzle—with the most important piece missing right out of the middle. That God piece. The reason-you-were-born piece.
Your emptiness can be filled, right now.
Enter in at the narrow gate—Jesus Christ. Walk in His life and light.
The Way makes all things new.
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:14)
Billions of people—making their decision. The one and only decision that actually matters.
Do you still need to make your decision? The Lord is with you, at this moment.
He has already provided the Way for you. Your debt was paid. The pain was suffered. His blood has already been shed for you. The Way has been made open.
Claim what is already yours, for the asking—forgiveness, freedom, new life and rest, in Jesus.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
The choice is yours.
No one can make this decision for you—no priest, pastor, family member, or church—not even God Himself.
The very fact that you exist should tell you something important. That the magnificent God of Heaven and earth, who created all things, wanted you to be here. Here on earth, and here right now—as you read this post.
Anyone can choose the Way. But sadly, so many walk right on past, only concerned with the here and now—thinking very little about their eternal destiny.
But each one of us will die, and each one of us faces a future eternity of time, beyond this short life we live.
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3a)
His greatest desire is that you will freely choose Him—the Way. The Only Way.
The Way to freedom, and newness of life. Through Christ Jesus—that Door of Life, where sin is forgiven, and forgotten.
“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5a)
“All things new.” Born again. Your complete reset.
This is the Way.
Questions? Comments? We would love to hear from you. ~Ken