The Way that Leads to Eternal Life

When Jesus was preparing to die and leave His followers in this world, He promised them He was preparing a place for them and He would come again to take them home with Him (John 14:3). Thomas asked Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Jesus replied, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

This claim is exclusive. Jesus said He is “the truth”, not “a truth.” Today people often want options. They may say, “I have my truth and you have your truth.” Many look for “a truth” that will serve them, but the only way Christianity truly works is by acknowledging it for what it is: the truth. You may find aspects of truth in many places, but only in Jesus will you find “the truth.”

There are many paths one may pursue in this life, both religious and secular. Jesus is not merely one way (option), or one path among many acceptable paths; Jesus is the way. Many say we are all going to heaven, we are just taking different roads to get there; however, Jesus spoke of Himself as the exclusive way. The one way that leads to life is narrow and few find it (Matthew 7:14).

When people say, “this is the life,” what do they mean? The good life may include different ideas to different people, but Jesus is “the life” beyond comparison. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Did Jesus make abundant life available? He said in the very next verse, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Truly Jesus lived the most exemplary, sinless life (John 8:46; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:21-24). But not only that, He died and rose again to give us eternal life; the only way to have life is to be in Jesus, the Son of God (John 11:25; 1 John 5:11).

With these thoughts in mind, consider how we must follow the commands of Jesus and imitate His example in the way we live each day as communicated in 1 John 2:3-6:

 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Only by following the way of the Lord Jesus Christ will we have the truth in us that leads to eternal life (Hebrews 5:9). This week we have the blessing of having brother Phil Sanders with us in our Gospel Meeting. Brother Phil addresses a vast multitude of households each week in the television program “In Search of the Lord’s Way.” Will you be with us each opportunity you have to consider the way that leads to eternal life?

-Mark Day