There is no other way.
Do you think you can be saved through other ways? Religion? Not the way. Your pastor? Not the way. Baptism? Not the way. Church membership? Not the way. Doing good things? Not the way. The only way - knowing Jesus!
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him John 3:36
Similarly, 1 John 5:12: He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
It is clear now that Jesus is the only way?
Are you so hungry to own more money that your money owns you?
Jesus tells about two men, both of whom sold everything for the kingdom of heaven. To those men, God's eternal kingdom was so valuable that they were willing to give up everything they had in order to invest in it.
Matthew 13:44-46, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."
That's exactly the same attitude God wants us to have toward wealth. Money is an excellent servant but a terrible master. Unfortunately, many people in society are mastered by their money, unable to control their greed.
Yet God is more important than all these things in the world. There is a story about rich man's encounter with Jesus as told in Mark 10:17-22
As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”
Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.”
He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!”
Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.”
The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. He owned great wealth, but really his wealth owned him.
Remember that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also Matthew 6:21
This man's heart was so attached to his money that his money owned him. His attitude is very different than that of the two men, who sold everything for the kingdom of heaven.
If, like this man, you become so hungry to own more money, be aware that really your money will own you.
So how do we follow Jesus today? The same way the disciples did long ago. Hear the words of Jesus and believe them. Take His words and obey them. Confess your sins to Jesus as your Lord and God. Believe that He died to take the punishment of your sins and rose from the dead to give you new life. Follow His example and command to tell others the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
When we follow Him in “the way,” we can be assured of following Him all the way to heaven.
No comments:
Post a Comment