26 Years

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." [ John 14:6 ]

Jesus did not say, "I am one of many relative options to the way and the truth and the life. If you feel like this is a belief that is comfortable for you, you can come to the Father through me."

Twenty-six years ago today, I was compelled to make the most important decision of my life. One that was more important than where I went to college, what I was going to do when I found out I was pregnant, or if I should marry Danny. That decision was to believe that Jesus is who he says he is: "The way and the truth and the life." To believe He is not a liar and intolerant, but that He is the ONLY choice for Truth and Life.

On August 13, 1983 at 13 years old I had joined my best friend and her church youth group for a day trip to the beach. As far as I knew, it was just going to be a fun day at the beach. But as I spent the day with this group and especially on the ride home in the van, I knew there was something different about them. They had something I did not. They had some kind of peace, some kind of something, and I had never seen it before, but I knew I wanted it too. What they had, was the way, the truth and the life.

As my friend and I sat in the parking lot of the church waiting to be picked up by her parents to go home, I remember asking her who Jesus was. I had been to church before at my grandmother's in VA many times and there was plenty of talk to Jesus and hell and being saved, but none of it ever made sense to me. I was Daddy's girl and since my father had rejected the beliefs of his parents, and was such a smart man, I naturally followed his lead.

But this night would be different. When I finally got home and lay awake in my bed, I could not stop thinking about what I had sensed and could not shake who Jesus was. No one told me how to say a special prayer, no one was there to urge me to "accept Jesus", but the Spirit of God had taken hold of me and without a word spoken, my heart acknowledged to God that night "You are God. And I need You."

Does it take deep doctrine and theology to convince someone of who Christ is? No. What kind of knowledge, what kind of insight, what kind of wisdom could a 13 year-old have?

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. [Matthew 11:25]

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." [Matthew 18:3]

My point being that it was nothing about ME that showed me who God is, it was His working and revealing. They say statistically as one gets older the less likely they will be open to the gospel of Jesus. Children don't have egos and pride and self-promotion and independence the same way adults do. Children don't define themselves by resumes, social status, accomplishments, influence, etc. the way adults do. They are innocent and don't know much. They do not have to over analyze and weigh the pros and the cons and consider the various outcomes and sacrifices. They are innocent and able to receive the truth.

As an adult now and as a Christian of 26 years, I find that the truth is sometimes the hardest thing to believe and live by, but it is the only thing that will set you free and will give you life.
Jesus is the way to get you to the truth which will give you life. The other options are all a detour to the lie which will give you death.