#2499 1105 17A

          Some people make a commitment to read 100 books this year, and they support library reading programs. This is certainly good, if the book contains good material, or if reading the book would be inspiring spiritually, and informing literally, of God’s plan for our life. The words of Jesus to Martha are recalled: Luke 10:42 “One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

            The Bible is ready to speak to us on any given day and in any given situation—because Hebrews 4:12 “it can discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart.” Any verse at any time can inform us of something we had not realized in previous readings.

            Even though we would love to have been close friends with Jesus in the first century, He told a woman who thought that—Luke 11:28 “Nay rather,” He replied, “they are blessed who hear God’s Message and carefully keep it.” Obedience is the key to the true Christian walk. We are to keep God’s Word in our heart all day and every day of our life on earth!

            Only three things last for eternity—God; His Words; and our souls! A real danger today is false doctrine—Satan will do anything to get us off the seldom-traveled narrow road of faith in God, and onto a well-traveled road of trust on ourselves. Satan doesn’t care what book we read, just so it is not the Bible.  He wants us off the narrow road so he can steer us onto the wide path.

            We must keep our guard up—asking God every day to protect us from false teaching and doctrines that could put us on a heavily-traveled road of trusting in anything and everything but God. Anything we hear or read must be filtered with Scripture.  If it doesn’t agree with the Word, it should be discarded as refuse. 

            There is much teaching now that there are many paths to Heaven—saying Jesus is not the only way to get there, but Acts 4:12 the One Book of Truth refutes that false information. “In no other is the great salvation to be found; for, in fact, there is no second name under Heaven that has been given among men through which we are to be saved.”

            A mega-church minister recently ended a prayer with: quote I humbly ask this in the name of the One Who changed my life—Yeshua, Isa, Jesus [Spanish he-soos], and Jesus unquote. Yeshua is the Hebraic form of Jesus—spoken by O. T. Hebrews; Isa is the Arabic form of Jesus—spoken by Muslims; and the Spanish pronunciation of Jesus—is spoken mainly by Roman Catholics.  That prayer put all religions under the same umbrella.

            A former President said quote I believe there are many paths to the same place unquote. Another former President said quote I do believe there is an Almighty that is broad and big enough, and loving enough that can encompass many people. I don’t think God is a narrow concept; I think it’s a broad concept—that others have different avenues to God unquote.

            We need to know the real Truth from the One Book that contains it. Matthew 7:13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

            Jesus is telling the truth, that it is a narrow road—it is not a broad way. In a recent fictional book, the author wrote that Jesus says: I am the best way any human can relate to God unquote. So is Jesus the best way to relate to the Father in Heaven, or the only way—is the question. The answer is in the One Book—Jesus is the only way, and truth, and life. 

            Another much respected religious teacher who spoke to millions of people for decades said quote I used to believe that pagans in far off countries were lost, and would go to the Lake of Fire. I no longer believe that. I believe that there are other ways of recognizing the existence of God unquote. Are there other ways to recognize God’s existence, or is there just one way—is the question.

            The answer is again in the One Book—John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  The apostle said, 1 Timothy 2:5 “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 John 2:23 “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”

            We have to believe that Jesus is who He said He is—He is the only way; giving the only Truth; and explaining the only life that leads to the Father. John 8:24 “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

            Some people are careful not to offend anyone—they would rather not say that a person’s belief system is wrong and that it will lead to the wrong place, but it is not offensive to tell someone the truth. The most loving thing we could do, is tell someone the truth! Galatians 4:16 “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”

            Far too many have accepted another gospel that will take them to another place—that they do not wish to go. Galatians 1:6 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” There are many distorted and altered gospels heard on the air, over the Internet, and spoken in churches today.

            One Book is needed to answer the questions. The apostle was adamant—saying Galatians 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

            If anyone is accursed, they would not enter the Kingdom. It is a serious word because God is serious concerning His Word. 2 Corinthians 11:4 “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him”—or why do you tolerate such teaching!

            This is repeated because it is important! God does not want us to miss the point. There is only one Gospel and one way to the Father—and that is through His Son—who says we must forgive everyone of everything ever done to us. Jesus says to love one another, so we must do that and live that, if we expect to see the Father.

            Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” It does not matter what others think of us, but it does matter what God thinks of us. We should not want anyone to be deceived about eternity. John 17:3 “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

            Those who question whether Jesus is the only way to Heaven, are really questioning the Word of the Father, which is the inerrant Word of God. 2 Peter 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

            We know from historical accounts, archaeology, and fulfilled prophecy, that the Bible is inspired by God; that it is 2 Timothy 3:16 “Useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.”

            All religions come down to a book, but the Bible is the only one that has proven throughout history to be accurate and true. Psalm 12:6 “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalm 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

            One Book is needed to know the truth of who Jesus really is. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was the archangel Michael, but that is definitely not true. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

            The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the Word, and the Word is God, so Jesus is God! Jehovah’s Witnesses have it all wrong—it will affect their eternity. 1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”

            What the Bible says, the Father spoke; what Jesus taught, the Father told Him; and what the Holy Spirit inspires us to do, is the Truth from the Book that leads to Heaven.  John 10:30 “I and my Father are one.” What the Father says, the Son teaches, and the Spirit inspires us to follow that advice; that Truth; and that one way to eternal life.

            In a troubled world today, Jesus assures John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

            But the only way to move into our new place, is to follow the teaching of the only Way.  Jesus added 4 “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” Thomas didn’t know, but we should know the way. Jesus told them John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

            Only one book is needed to get us safely home. Jesus said John 14:11 “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me”—when He said to love others; to forgive everyone; to trust Him; and to follow His teaching on faith and trust, He meant it!