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.
No comments:
Post a Comment