04 May The Way, The Truth And The Life
The Way, The Truth And The Life (John 14:6)
By Joseph Ogbonnah
Beloved, thousands of people are dying every second and majority of the souls are perishing because they decided to live a Christless life – a life without hope on their way to begin eternity in hell and finally in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone (Rev 21:8). For these perished souls I can do nothing, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement” (Hebrews 9:27). But for the living I have been given a responsibility and obligation to see that I do all that is necessary so that they do not perish, “For to him that is joined to the living there is hope” Always remember that, “God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”( 2 Peter 3:9). The only way to repentance unto salvation is through Jesus Christ. Why are you preoccupied with pleasure, party, picnic, politics, pursuit of power and yet neglected the Giver of Life – Jesus Christ? Do you know the reason why with all your money, properties, and connections but you are still miserable? It is because you are not connected to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. If you don’t have Christ then you will have a life without a refuge and hiding place. The deceivers can offer you everything but they can’t offer you the most important thing, which is eternal life because they themselves don’t have it. Listen “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”(John 17:3).
As you are reading this message you might say it is not for me but for the unbelievers. Well you are saved, glory be to God but what about others who are not saved? What are you going to do about it? Don’t you think it is time we believers use the social media and other avenues to propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ instead of using it to glorify the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Have you not read the scripture that says, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). I strongly believe in the saying that, “God forms man, sin deforms him, the school informs him, but only Christ transforms him” – It is only Jesus Christ that can save. Let us remember that Jesus Christ not only fed the people with the Bread of Life, He also fed them with loafs of bread, fish to go with it, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). “Only that we should remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10). Can you truthfully say that as a believer that you have ever visited the widows, fatherless, orphanage homes, hospices to preach the good news to them and bless them with your substances? One writer said “I was hungry and you formed a club to discuss it. I was in prison and you stayed in church to pray for me. I was naked and you debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick and you thanked God for your health. I was homeless and you told me about heaven’s streets of gold. You seem so holy, so close to God but I’m still hungry, lonely, cold and in pain. Does it matter? (Read Mathew 25:35-43). Finally..let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth( 1John 3:18)
THE WAY
“Jesus said unto him I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me”(John 14:6) In the preceding verse Thomas wanted to know where our Lord Jesus was going and how they can know the way. This was after Jesus had told them about the many mansions in His Father’s house and that He was going to prepare a place for them so that they can all eventually be together with him. You need to understand that though Jesus was born in a manger yet in His Father’s house there are many mansions, though he was called the carpenter son yet He is the Counselor.When he was on earth Jesus always does all things well so that people are always astonished beyond measure (Mark 7:37) He has not changed because He is the unchanging Christ,”Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever”(Hebrews 13:8).Therefore with all assurance I can truthfully say that the most expensive and beautiful mansions here on earth cannot be compared to even the least of the heavenly mansions that has been prepared for those that love God, “But as it is written, EYE HATH NOT SEEN,NOR EAR HEARD,NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN,THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM”(1 Corinthians 2:9). Do you love God? Do you love your neighbour as yourself? Do you love your brother?”If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen”(1 John 4:20)
Different ways leads to different destinations. Jesus said I am the way and that means that He is the only way to a particular destination? Way to which destination? He is the way, the truth and the life.
The way leads to the truth and the truth leads to life, abundant life, more abundant life and eternal life. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life personified.
No matter how you look at it there are only two ways in life that leads to two different eternal destination and abode.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go there at. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”(Mathew 7:13-14)
We have the broad way and the narrow way. One leads to destruction and the other to life.
Let us examine what makes up the broad way
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death “(Proverbs 14:12).
The Broad Way
1. The way of the heathen (Jeremiah 10:2)
2.The way of the wicked (Jeremiah 12:1)
3.The way of the transgressors (Proverbs 13:15)
4.The way not cast up (Jeremiah 18:15)
5. The way of violence and war (Isaiah 59:8)
6.The way of sinners (Psalm 1:1)
All the above ways leads to destruction
The Narrow way
1.The way of holiness (Isaiah 35:8-9)
2.The way of peace (Romans 3:17)
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace(Isaiah 9:6) and we are admonished to “Follow peace with all men, and holiness ,without which no man shall see the Lord”(Hebrews 12:14)
3.The good way (Jeremiah 6:16)
4. The way of God ( Psalm 103:7 ;Mathew 22:16)
5.The way of life (Proverbs 6:23)
6.The way of God’s saints (Proverbs 2:8)
The narrow way is the only way that leads to life. If you have been walking on the broad way there is still a chance for you to make a U turn, it is never too late to change direction in life as long as you are still alive now but the next second might be too late. Always remember that there is no repentance in the grave. The choice is yours, you can either repent and surrender to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour or you continue in the broad way with all its pleasures of sin which is for a season.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9)
THE TRUTH
We are living in perilous and trying times; terrible and terrifying times indeed to be exact and only the Truth can deliver us from the evil of this time and set us free.
Pilate said unto Jesus” Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth .Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice”(John 18:37). Earlier on Jesus had told the Jews who believed on him that “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”(John 8:31-32) Notice that they believed on Him and not in Him.
To the Jews who were Abraham’s seed this was unbelievable and unacceptable because God had told them clearly in Leviticus 25:42,”For they are my servants which I brought forth out Egypt they shall not be sold as bondmen”. Even though they told Jesus how they felt they failed to ask Him a vital question which Pilate later asked,”….what is truth?”
In John 14:6 in response to Thomas questions Jesus said to him” I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me”.
Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God is the Truth and it is only Him that can set you free from the bondage of sin, worldliness and chains of Satan. “If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”(John 8:36).
The question is this? Do you actually want to be set free from sin? or do enjoy the pleasure of sin which is but for a season? Don’t you know that the soul that sinneth shall die? When death comes knocking on your door your wealth, earthly possessions, fame and educational qualification and status in the society will make no difference. Remember the rich fool(John 12:16-21).After death you will stand in judgement to give account to God who will judge the quick and dead in truth and righteousness .
It is very sad to note that people are having pleasure in sin and others not only do them but commend those who live in habitual and presumptuous sins and applaud others who are professionals in wilful transgressions.
Today the world has replaced the word sin with mistake ,there are no longer harlots or prostitutes but commercial sex workers, the word lie is now known as ”economical with the truth”,murderers now call themselves hired killers or professional assassins ,fraudsters say what they are doing is reparation for years of colonialism and exploitation ,even if they had read Walter Rodney book ,”How Europe underdeveloped Africa” it did not advocate fraud or scam, what these fraudsters are doing is another form of robbery in direct disobedience to God’s commandment “Thou shalt not steal” ,others commit adultery and fornication and call it having fun, the drunkards now take joy in the bottle and are married to the bottle while neglecting their marital and fatherly obligations, premarital sex and divorce is now the order of the day.
How can you keep on disobeying God and living in sin. Let me tell you if you damn the consequence, the consequence will damn you.
Let me remind you that
God is the Creator and you are the creature
God is the Potter and you are the clay
God is Immortal and you are mortal
God is Invisible and you are visible
God is Omniscience, Omnipresent and Omnipotent so tell me can you and your father the devil(John 8:44) compare yourselves to the Almighty?
It is time for you to repent and come to Jesus Christ so that you will be set free indeed. God is well able to deliver you from the power of darkness and translate you into the Kingdom of His dear Son Jesus Christ. Don’t ever forget that we have redemption through His blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His Grace. Why not come to Jesus now? The next nanosecond might be too late.
THE LIFE
“Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, why have yea not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man (John 7 :46). These were the officers whom they sent to arrest Jesus Christ (John 7:32), giving them a feedback of their aborted mission because when they got there and listened to him they were astonished at his doctrine just like the people who heard Jesus preach the sermon on the mount (Mathew 7:28). Even the Jews marveled, saying, how knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (John 7:15). Jesus Christ taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Mathew 7:29) because His doctrine was from God, and of God (John 7:16). “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me” (John 6:53-57). After Jesus Christ preached the message, the scripture account is that, “Many thereof of his disciples, when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear? … From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no with him” (John 6:60, 66).
There was a time when Jesus was going through the cities and villages, teaching on his way to Jerusalem, “Then one said unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?… (Luke 13:23) Perhaps the person was present during Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount in Mathew chapters 5 to 7 and felt that the standard of holiness and righteousness was too high and therefore was now interested in statistics to know how many people will make heaven. Jesus Christ instead of answering him directly,” …And he said unto them. 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 13:23b-24).
The standard is very high and therefore you need to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12b). One of the ways we can do this as believers is by following Apostle Paul’s example, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”
(1 Corinthian 9:27).
“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). I have written on Jesus Christ the way, the truth and posted it on my page, this is the conclusion, Jesus Christ the life.
The Bible says in (Leviticus 17:11) ,”For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for your souls”. The Bible says that almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). In fulfillment of this Jesus Christ shed his precious blood for us on the Cross of Calvary. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:28). As it is written, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
The life of the flesh is in the blood and Jesus Christ shed his precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:19). John the Baptist testified of Jesus Christ, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). John the Beloved testified in (Revelation 5:6-9), that after the Lamb took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat on the Throne, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell before the Lamb, having everyone of them harps, and golden vials full of odors which are the prayers of saints, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation: And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth”
The scriptures say that, “For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten Son ,that whosoever believeth in him should not perish ,but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). That life is through his blood that He shed on the Cross for the remission of our sin. “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mathew 4:17). What He said then, He is still saying today, but tomorrow might be too late, for as it is written in (2 Corinthians 6:2) For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation). What Peter said to the people I say unto everyone reading this who is not Born Again, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). What Jesus Christ said to the Jews I say unto you, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Luke 13:3).
What Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans I write unto you, “That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10)
Finally the Bible testifies that , “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men”( John 1:5) The sweet psalmist and prophetic king of Israel David, acknowledged this truth when he said “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light”(Psalm 36:9)
What are you still doing in darkness?
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