How Do I Get Home from Here?
There is one way to the Father—not because God is unwilling to save, but because God provided the way He chose to save.
How Do I Get Home from Here?
Jesus willingly went to the cross and gave His life for our sins. He took the judgment for our sin on Himself and rose again from the dead. As Peter wrote:
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross.” — 1 Peter 2:24
Jesus certainly gave us an example to follow, but He did something infinitely greater than just showing us how to live. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He made atonement for our sin.
There is only one way to God because there is only One Savior who was given that mission and who accomplished God’s provision for our salvation.
This isn’t a question of whether Muhammad was sincere or whether Buddha said things that sound wise. It isn’t a question of whether people in other religions are kind, moral, sincere or genuinely searching for God.
The issue is sin.
How is our sin removed? There is only one answer: Jesus.
The apostles proclaimed it clearly:
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12
So when Christians say that Jesus is the only way, we aren’t claiming that Christians are better than everyone else. Quite the opposite. We’re admitting that we couldn’t save ourselves either. We needed a Savior.
God, in His grace and lovingkindness, reached down to us and provided One. There is one way to the Father—not because God is unwilling to save, but because God provided the way He chose to save.
The Way is Jesus.
The Truth is Jesus.
The Life is Jesus.
That’s not the arrogant claim of Christians. That’s the gracious invitation of God.
But someone may still ask, “Isn’t it unfair for God to provide only one way?”
I think we have the question backward. The remarkable thing isn’t that God provided only one way. The remarkable thing is that God provided a way at all.
Christianity isn’t ultimately asking you to choose Jesus because Christianity happens to be your preferred religion. It’s asking you to consider Jesus Himself. Who was He? What did He claim? What did He accomplish on the cross?
That’s the question every person needs to ponder at some point or another. Who is He and how am I going to respond to that?
