I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.
NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.

This is quite a bold statement for someone to make. Yet Jesus proclaimed this to His disciples in response to a question from Thomas. In the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verses 1 - 4, Jesus is explaining to the disciples that He would be going to Heaven to prepare a place for them. Thomas had the desire to follow Him, but did not know the way.

All throughout history people have been trying to find the way to Heaven. Many people believe that it is our “good works” that will get us there. One common belief is that when we die, God will weigh our good works against the bad. If the scales balance out in our favor, we'll make it in. Others believe we have to pay a penance (penalty) for our sins. There are many different thoughts on how we as humans can accomplish this.

The Bible does declare that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible also declares that God has made no provision for us as humans to be able to pay this penalty (read Hebrews 10:1-18). According to Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death...”. This death that the Bible is speaking of is not just a physical death, but also a spiritual death. Once we sin we become separated from God. Romans 3:23 reminds us; “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

Because God loves us very much, He desires to have a personal relationship with each and every person, not only in eternity, but right now in this life as well. But in order be able to offer this personal relationship to us, He first had to deal with sin. Knowing that the penalty had to be paid, and also knowing that we were not able to pay it ourselves, He did the only thing possible. He paid the penalty for us! How did He do that? By sending His only Son to die on the cross at Calvary in our place. “But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)

This is the simple truth of the Gospel. The Bible tells us it is only through Christ’s death on the cross that our sins can be forgiven. “In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can have confidence in this forgiveness. “Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures... He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred...” (1 Corinthians 15:3 - 6). And finally, Jesus ascended into Heaven “...He left them and was taken up into Heaven” (Luke 24:51).

When we stop “working” to earn our salvation, and choose instead to place our faith in what Jesus did for us, we have found the way to Heaven. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8 - 9).

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Do you want the assurance of eternal life, along with a brand new relationship with God? You can have it right now. Just pray this prayer, or something similar that’s from your own heart, asking Jesus into your life.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, in need of a Savior. I now ask you to come into my life and to forgive my sins. I thank you for dying for me, for forgiving all my sins, and for giving me eternal life. Take control of my life, and make me into the person you want me to be.

If you have just prayed this prayer, and in your heart meant what you said, please read this.

If you’re still not sure - that is ok.