THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE

John Chapter 14

I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE . . .

The Way:

As we traverse this world of sin we often stumble spiritually because we lose our way.  As followers of Jesus Christ our way should always be led. Too often we lead or look to others or other things to lead us in the way we feel we should go.  In many cases our motivations are good and we mean well but when we stray from being led by our Master, He ceases being our Master and something else supplants Him. It can be a social conscience, it can be a noble agenda but in all cases WE become the master and WE begin to choose the way.

It begins almost imperceptibly, let’s dedicate ourselves to this cause; our membership is waning, let’s try this; or this other thing.  The way of Christ is obedience.  If you will follow Him you are to pick up your cross, you are to put on your armor, you are to put on Jesus Christ. The path is clear but it conflicts with our human nature and many times our societal vacillations. 

When we continue to keep our eyes on Jesus, we will continue to respond to the higher calling that is Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3: 13 & 14 ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

If your church is struggling, if your life is empty, you may have lost your first love. Dear Lord help us to evaluate our plans and schemes in the light of your Spirit. If our plans be outside of your WAY, give us the courage and conviction to put our feet on the path led by You.

The Truth:

What is truth?  A question asked of Jesus by Pilot, a learned man. This statement has been the mantra of many theologians and philosophers throughout the ages and could be the anthem of the modern tolerance movement. If truth cannot be demonstrated, then any statement of fact, beyond those that can be empirically proven, are arbitrary at best.

But if there is a truth, as the Christ claims there is, then this truth would be a powerful thing. This truth would define many more perceived truths to be untruths.  This truth would also constrain us to validate what we do, how we think and what we say in relationship to this truth. The truths of physics would force us to call a person a fool who says the window won’t break if I throw this rock against it. We know the truth is far different even though it has not been empirically proven in this instance.

Jesus claimed to be the truth and if that is so, then we are called to measure ourselves according to that truth. Not the most comfortable thought. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  Here’s a few of His commands courtesy of “Institute of Basic Life Principles”.

•Repent  •Follow Me   •Rejoice    •Let Your Light Shine  •Honor God’s Law   •Be Reconciled   •Do Not Lust   •Keep Your Word   •Go the Second Mile   •Love Your Enemies   •Be Perfect  •Practice Secret Disciplines  •Lay Up Treasures   •Seek God’s Kingdom •Judge Not (with exceptions)  •Do Not Cast Pearls  •Ask, Seek, Knock  •Do Unto Others  •Choose the Narrow Way  •Beware of False Prophets  •Pray for Laborers   •Be Wise as Serpents  •Fear Not  •Hear God’s Voice  •Take My Yoke  •Honor Your Parents   •Beware of Leaven (sin)  •Deny Yourself  •Despise Not Little Ones  •Go to Offenders  •Beware of Covetousness  •Forgive Offenders  •Honor Marriage  •Be a Servant  •Be a House of Prayer  •Ask in Faith  •Bring In the Poor  •Render to Caesar  •Love the Lord  •Love Your Neighbor  •Await My Return  •Be Born Again  •Keep My Commandments  •Watch and Pray  •Feed My Sheep  •Receive God’s Power  •Make Disciples

No wonder many of those who call themselves "Christian" deny that exclusive (as if there is another kind)basic truth exists. The list is not only impossible but overwhelming. When we lose our first love we become incapable of keeping His commands, even comprehending that such an endeavor would be possible.

We as Christ followers would say, “exactly”.  Jesus said that when He goes to the Father that He will send us a Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 16:7) The Spirit causes us to be Born Again, born of the Spirit.  The Spirit creates in us a new perspective; a God perspective. Instead of running from good towards evil we now run from evil towards the good. When we read Romans Chapter 7 the incredible thing about Paul isn’t that he continues to struggle with sin and admits it, but that he does not want to sin.  God through the Spirit initiates a 180 degree perspective shift from evil to good.

When we no longer teach the TRUTH that God transforms individuals, via the New Birth, we lose the ability to see the things of the kingdom and to be part of the kingdom.  We are left to seek the Kingdom relying on our own strength and good works. We try to recreate God’s TRUTH by feeding the poor, and supporting the United Way.  The good we do no longer comes from our relationship with God and ultimately the power of the Holy Spirit, but the good we do becomes our god.  We become frustrated and ultimately give up.

The Life:

Once we have lost THE WAY and we no longer believe THE TRUTH how can we expect to have THE LIFE.  The Way, The Truth and The Life form a symbiotic relationship. If you lose your way you will never find the truth and if you can’t find the truth because you don’t know the way you will not attain the life. 

If you need an operation to save your life and you have directions to the hospital but you are not familiar with the streets and you get lost, you will die.  If you need an operation to save your life and you know the streets quite well and someone gives you un true directions, you will not be able to find the hospital and you will die.  Knowing the streets and having truthful directions will get you to the hospital and you will live.

Why are so many of our church pews and souls empty today. We have chosen a more enlightened way, we no longer stand for the truth and the result is we are lost and cannot find the life.