Jesus Knows the Way

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 14:6

Before even getting out of bed one morning, my mind started filling with memories of trips I had taken – one to England and one to Germany.  I remembered how much I appreciated traveling with people who had been there before. They knew all the sights to see and where to stay.  Even more important, they knew how to get to those places. Subways, trains, buses, ferries – all that would have been really difficult to figure out on my own!  Those travels were delightful and amazing!

As delightful and amazing it is to travel and experience the beauty of God’s creation on earth, our lives here are only temporary. We have the Lord’s promise of far greater pleasure for all eternity.  Read what His Word says:

What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, And what no human mind has conceived – the things God has prepared for those who love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV):

My thoughts then turned to prayer for a dear friend whose beloved granddaughter is losing a long and painful battle with cancer.  Apart from a miracle, she will soon be in heaven! I’m so thankful to know that she and her family have journeyed with the Lord through their time on earth.  Soon Jesus will bring her to the place in heaven He has prepared for her.  And she, and all who belong to Jesus, will be there with her someday for all eternity.

Jesus came from heaven to earth to prepare the way for all who belong to Him to spend eternity with Him.  Even before the creation of the world, this was God’s plan.  Jesus would come to earth to die for the sins of the world.  He would be resurrected and live again for a short time on earth before going back to heaven.  Jesus spent time with His disciples after His resurrection preparing them for His departure.  In John 14:1-6, Jesus comforted them with these words:

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places.  If it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also….

All who have received God’s gift of salvation through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross for forgiveness of sin have this assurance.  There is no other way to heaven than the one He has prepared for us. 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Only God knows the number of our days on earth.  Are you ready for heaven?  If you can answer “Yes,” take some time to thank God for that assurance.

If your answer is “No,” you can pray even now and ask God to make you ready.  Here are some Scriptures with God’s truth about salvation:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If you are ready to receive Jesus as your personal Savior, you could pray this prayer (copied from The New Believer’s Bible):

            God, I’m sorry for my sin.  I turn from it right now. 

I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sin.

Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart and life right now. 

Be my Lord, Savior, and friend. 

Help me to follow you all the days of my life as your disciple.

Thank you for forgiving and receiving me right now. 

Thank you that my sin is forgiven and that I am going to heaven.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

If you believe these Scriptures and have prayed that prayer, you can be assured that God has heard you, and you belong to Him.  All believers are called to continue our life journey with the Lord, getting to know Him more through reading His Word, depending on His Spirit living in us to follow and obey what He tells us to do.  Remember that this life is not all there is – we have an eternal home in heaven prepared for us!