Looking For Salvation In All The Wrong Places

Nobel Prize-winning author William Saroyan lay dying from cancer in May of 1981. He picked up the phone next to his hospital bed and called the Associated Press. Getting a reporter on the line, he said, “Everybody has to die, but I always believed an exception would be made in my case. Now what?”

Troubled people need peace and affirmation. Our cynical world contains many troubled people with deep questions about death and the afterlife. If the success of cults and false religions have taught us anything, it is that troubled people are gullible when it comes to their spiritual life.

Scripture tells that it is appointed unto humans once to die and there will be no exceptions. All Christ Jesus' talk about His own death, and this mysterious discussion about going some place where the disciples couldn't come in chapter 13 had surely left the disciples confused and troubled. We saw this with Peter and his statements in verses 36-38 of John 13.

John, Chapter 14 is a continuation of Christ Jesus' talk with His disciples after their meal. He had sent Judas on his way, next He set out to comfort the troubled hearts of the rest of the disciples. He had just told them that there was a traitor among them and that Peter was going to betray Him. He also reminded them He is going away and that they would not be able to follow Him right away. Was it any wonder that their hearts were troubled? They needed to be reassured by the One whom they loved, but often could not understand.

This was far more than a “pep talk” by Christ Jesus. He was on His way to being reunited with His Father in glory. Through His death and Resurrection, His leaving them, He would open the way for these men and all mankind to live in union with Him and His Father in the Father's house. This will become their “place” of dwelling, their monē (mon-ay'). The Father’s house is great and spacious, an eternal place of dwelling with many rooms. Christ Jesus is preparing a place for each of us in that home, and some day that work will all be done and He will return for His own.

It seems that Thomas must have been daydreaming or on a mental vacation. Christ Jesus had just told them that He was going to heaven. Thomas just caught the tail end of what the Lord was saying. “And you know the way where I am going." Coming back to reality he blurted out, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" In answer, Christ Jesus gave us one of His greatest gospel texts. Christ Jesus declares His great unequivocal “I am.” All of the “I am's” of the Gospel—”water,” “bread,” “light,” “resurrection and life”—are caught up in Christ Jesus’ saying, “I am the way” (v. 6). There is no other door to life with the Father. Christ Jesus is the one and only gate through which men can enter His Father’s fold. He is the Way because in Him the truth of the Father is revealed, not in concepts or ideals, but through coming to know Him. To know Christ Jesus is to know His Father and the life He offers.

On the grounds of Hampton Court Palace there is a maze built of hedges. In the middle of the maze is a seat where those who are tired of finding their way back out can rest and think things over. There is also a bell there. By ringing the bell the lost person can summon aid. A man will appear, a man who knows the way. Follow him and soon the perplexing paths will become an orderly way. The solution lies with that man.

John 14:1-6
14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

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

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Christ Jesus’ statement answers three of the most important if not the most important questions we can ask. In this one verse Christ Jesus answers these questions –

1. HOW CAN I BE SAVED? “I am the way...” - Reconciliation that leads to the Father

Rom 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
For the lost sinner who is spiritually dead there is only one way to have a restored relationship with God the Father. That one way is through Christ Jesus the Son of God.

But Brother Orden, “The lost don't know they are lost.” I have heard this statement many times, I have even said it a time or two. But it really is a false statement, the lost know they are lost. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Rom 1:20

247 million books on religion or spirituality were recorded sold in 2008. According to the Book Industry Study Group, 92.3 million books were sold in the Body/Mind/Spirit category in 1999, representing between 8 to 9% of total sales of adult books. Of that number, 34% were inspirational titles, 28% were diet/exercise/health books, 16% psychology, 13% new age. Sales of self-help books rose 96% in the five years between 1991 and 1996 (American Bookseller). The lost know they are lost and they are looking for answers. 

The answer they are looking for is Christ Jesus! He will be the Finisher of that which He is the Author or Beginner. As He is preparing a place for you, He wants to prepare you for it. Christ Jesus has shown He is the Way in His person as God manifest in the flesh, by what He taught, by His example and as our Advocate. He is the sinner's Way to the Father and to heaven, through His atoning sacrifice. 

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Matt 10:32

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:9 

Christ Jesus is the only way to a restored relationship with God the Father. Why not end all your searching and questioning and invite Him into your life today?

The question Christ Jesus answered is: How can I be saved? The next question He answered was:

2. HOW CAN I BE SURE? “I am … the truth...” - Christ Jesus is the Truth, the

illumination.

Christ Jesus is the embodiment of the truth proclaimed throughout John’s Gospel. Just as truth is opposed to shadow and darkness, Christ Jesus is the substance of light in the Old Testament, and the New Testament.

“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:4-5

The Prince of the earth and this world still offer only shadow, not truth or substance. Christ Jesus who is the truth came with a better offer. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

I think you would agree that truth is the opposite of falsehood. Yet falsehoods are what many chase after. “If I had more money...”, “If I had a better job...”, “If I had a bigger house...” and the list goes on.

The doctrine or teachings of Christ Jesus however are true. “They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark 1:22

“And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20

Some would say that truth is subjective, yea right.

Truth - the state of being the case; the body of real things, events, and facts; the Greek word used is aletheia (al-ay'-thi-a) which comes from alethes (al-ay-thace') which means true (as not concealing). 

Christ Jesus is true to all that trust in Him. And as truth He makes the way dependable and infallible. “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." Rom 10:12-13. 

And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." Luke 23:42-43

Do you know the truth that is Christ Jesus?

Christ Jesus answered the most important question a person can ask: How can I be saved. He then answered the question: How can I be sure? The last question Christ Jesus answers here in this verse is:

3. HOW CAN I BE SATISFIED? “I am … the life” - Christ Jesus can and will restore your relationship with God the Father. 

We are alive and in a relationship with God only in and through Christ Jesus. Rom 6:11: “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” 

Christ Jesus is the resurrection and the life, Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 

If you have been asking the questions: How can I be saved, How can I be sure, How can I be satisfied? I pray you have seen this morning how Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life and no one come to the Father except through Him.

CONCULSION:

Christ Jesus is your beginning, and your end. In Him you must start, and finish this raced called life. As the Truth, Christ Jesus is your Way to a restored relationship with God the Father. As the Life, He is author of your eternity. Christ Jesus is the true way to life, the only true way; other ways may seem right, but at the end of them is death.

As a person without Christ Jesus you must come to God as your Judge, you cannot come to Him as a child. It is only through Christ Jesus as your Mediator that you become a child of God. You can't perform the duty of coming to God, by repentance and the acts of worship, without the Spirit and grace of Christ Jesus. Nor can you obtain the happiness that comes with a relationship with God as your Father. Not without Christ Jesus' merit and righteousness; He is the high priest of your confession, your advocate before the throne of God. Will you accept Christ Jesus as your Way, your Truth, and your LIFE this today?