Both Ways - No Way

You can't have it both ways. 

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The Bible makes many things clear, and one of them, is access to the Father: there is only one way, the way, and that is the truth. Jesus spoke these statements noted above, to Thomas; you and I can only imagine how mystical these words must have sounded to his disciple, and everyone else listening. 

My first study Bible is still one of my most treasured books. I took that tome with me everywhere after I got it, and when I needed wisdom desperately, it was my go to resource for clearing my thought cobwebs, healing my wounded heart, and redirecting my attention so that my feelings on a matter were validated, or more poignantly, closely inspected to see where, and when, I might have allowed them (the feelings and reactions I had while moving about the world with other people) to lead me in the wrong direction. The Bible has a marvellous way of stripping one bare, of any masquerading or pretending: scripture is akin to a cold glass of water thrown on the conscience, shocking the soul splashed with refreshing and somewhat startling, reality. 

A person cannot get away with much when they look to scripture. There are a lot of don'ts, and when someone like you or me, has done what we ought not to have done, there is a burning sense of shame, and embarrassment too, when we realize we have offended God. Being holy isn't a matter of being a good little girl or boy for a gold star reward from mommy, daddy, teacher, coach, boss: value must be intrinsic, not extrinsic. Honouring God is about caring what he thinks, approves of, and blesses, based on being like his beloved Son. Man alive, that is a tall order, isn't it, dear reader, to be just like Jesus? 

I attended a wedding ceremony today. The man, and his new bride, were each one, raised in Christian homes. Purity comes to mind when I think of them. They are the closest I have ever come, to young adults, that did not fall head long into side of the road emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual, ditches. There is something to be said about the danger of mixed marriages, meaning a man marrying a woman with one being a Christian, while the other, is not. This is biblically referred to as being unequally yoked, and if you think of an ox, yoked with a mule, you can imagine the difficulty they might have, ploughing the field of life. This couple had parents that taught them scripture, and it is clear to me, it made a difference in their lives.

Dear reader, we cannot have it both ways. We cannot have the world, and love it too, and have God, and love him equally well. It is a one or the other scenario. All that God created is to be admired and appreciated, but humans muck up his handiwork with such regularity, that it is near impossible to see the original design at times. One man, one woman, united in marriage, a covenantal match made in heaven and eye-witnessed by men and women, here on earth ... that, is stunningly beautiful to observe. 

There are Christ followers, and there are followers of Christ act and look a-likes. There is one Jesus, and yet, humans have a tendency to want other humans to fit the bill; they have a need to draft behind leaders that feign faith, that eventually will lead them astray, because they don't really love Jesus as Lord and Saviour, they love earthly hero types they can follow. A person that loves the Lord, will always direct attention to him and his Word. Humans don't save humans, Jesus is the Redeemer. 

There is one way to the Father, and that is through the Son. There is one way out of confusion and delusion, and that is the Truth, as spoken in scripture (I can see and hear when I read God's Word, as I imagine the surroundings and facial expressions of the men and women mentioned in each scenario. Can you too, dear reader?). The Bible is singularly brilliant, and does not need modifying, or remodelling, and it certainly does not need pay-per-use-prosperity gospel pretend preacher names encrusted upon it to sell to the susceptible masses. The Gospel is about Jesus the Christ, and the entire Bible is dedicated to him, and his flock. 

While the world goes one way, we are reminded of this:

Matthew 7:14

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it

The popular rich ones, that use the name of Jesus as though it is a common thing to be bandied about, are to be held suspect, especially if they live like heathens and devils, and speak hatred directed toward God's people. We must question motives and intentions, and the company people keep must be considered, before we trust a person that says they are a Christian. 

Saying it, and living it, are two different things, two different, incompatible, ox and donkey ways.