“How do I get on the pathway to God that Jesus talks about?"...

This week we have been looking at a section of a famous sermon that Jesus preached, which we know today as the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7:13-14, we see Jesus reveal for us a timeless truth about the true nature of what it means to obey the message and teachings of Jesus and the true nature of a lifestyle that is living a right relationship with Jesus in that a right relationship with God requires a right entrance into that relationship.

The timeless reality is that to experience a right relationship with God requires that we choose a way of life that places us on the right pathway to eternal life with God as part of the kingdom of Heaven. Then, in John 14:1-11, we see Jesus describe the way that one could experience the relationship with God that they were created for, but had been separated from as a result of selfishness and rebellion. Jesus is saying “I am the way of life; I am the source and embodiment of truth; I am the source by which you can experience forgiveness and the relationship with God that you were created for forever. And there is only way to experience that forgiveness and relationship. No one comes to experience that forgiveness and relationship with God apart from placing their trust in Me. You need to trust Me. Just as you are to place your confident trust in God, you need to place your confident trust in Me. If you really understood who I was as both life and the source of life, you would really understand who God was”.

We discovered that John 14:6 is inclusive and John 14:6 is exclusive. Jesus invitation is inclusive; everyone is invited to experience a right relationship with God. And Jesus invitation is exclusive in that there is only one way to experience a right relationship with God. And that way is through Jesus, who is the way.

Jesus came to earth to reveal and explain God to humanity and to rescue humanity from their selfishness and rebellion. And because Jesus is God-in-a-bod, Jesus provides us the pathway to God. Jesus provides the pathway to God because Jesus entered into humanity in order to live the life that we were created to live but refused to live, and then willingly allowed Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful lives, so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus perfect life.

And because of Jesus life, death, and resurrection, Jesus invites everyone to behave and engage in life in a way that places them on the pathway that leads to entering into eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven. And that way, that pathway is Jesus. And while everyone is invited to take that way and pathway, that pathway is narrow, that pathway is exclusive. And unfortunately, few choose that pathway. Many choose to behave and engage in life in a way that places them on that pathway that results in entering a gate that leads to eternal punishment after being found guilty of evil and wrongdoing that flows from a selfishness and rebellion against God.

Now another question that could arise at this point is “How do I get on the pathway to God that Jesus talks about?  How do I engage in a life that places me on the pathway that leads to entering into eternal life with God as part of the Kingdom of Heaven?”

If that question is running through your mind, I just want to let you know that you are asking a great question. And the answer is quite simple and can be summarized in three simple words: believe, trust, and follow.

First, you need to believe that you have done selfish things that have hurt God and others and are in need of forgiveness. In addition, you need to believe that Jesus was who He said He was; that Jesus was God in a bod, who entered into humanity and allowed Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful lives so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived His perfect life.

Second, you need to trust that Jesus death for your selfishness and sin provides forgiveness and the relationship with God you were created for. And third, you need to follow Jesus as Lord and Leader. In other words, you need to place Jesus as large and in charge of your life and strive to follow His message and teachings.

If you desire to accept God’s invitation to enter into the relationship with Him that you were created for, you simply need to express to Him that you believe, trust, and desire to follow Jesus as Lord and Leader. There are no magic words, prayers, or formulas. Just talk to God and express that desire as I lead us in prayer.

Because, the timeless reality is that a right relationship with God requires a right entrance into that relationship.