One Way

TITLE: One Way
DATE:  July 16, 2019
TEXT: John 14:6  - ESV - 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Way back when, I listened to commercials for all kinds of products. They advertised everything from dog food to laundry detergent. The only thing they had in common was the ending. As a last thought the ad would say, “Remember, accept no substitutions.”

“Accept no substitutions.” That is what Jesus was saying when He announced that He was “the Way, the Truth and the Life.’“ He wanted the world to know that while there would be many false messiahs, He was the only Redeemer Who could rebuild the bridge between earth and heaven; the only One Who could forgive the sins of lost and condemned souls; Who could promise eternal life in paradise to all who believe.

Accept no substitutions. In some things, of course, no substitutions are possible. That is a lesson I learned a long time ago.
Need an illustration? Come with me back in time to grade school. On this particular day all of the students were called into the gym, grade by grade. There we were asked to roll up our sleeves to receive a shot. Some of the students who had just received said shot were crying. More than a few waiting in line for the needle were also howling and a few were sitting down lest they faint.

At the far end of the gym were gathered many of our mothers. At first we thought they had come to rescue us. But no such luck. They were smiling, grinning, laughing as their children got their shot of vaccine which had been developed by Dr. Jonas Salk and his team of scientists..

We children didn’t understand much about polio, but our parents did. They had seen the faces of friends, family classmates who were going to spend their lives in the artificial breathers called iron lungs. They had seen the closed swimming pools and theaters.
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Because of what they had seen; they were overjoyed that their children were going to be protected. Not a single mom said, “I’m going to wait for a substitution vaccine. Nobody suggested, “I think our family will wait until the serum is in a different color.” No one suggested that the medicine should be delivered in a candy bar rather or a sugar cube.
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This medicine was going to save us and everyone was thankful for this modern day miracle.

On a spiritual level, Jesus came into this world to be for sinful souls the medicine which would save all who believe. This medicine was not discovered in a laboratory. It did not come from a medical team working long hours at a university. This medicine has no generic equivalent.

This absolutely, totally unique medicine is nothing less than the precious blood of the Savior.

His blood, shed upon Calvary's cross, is the serum that saves lost souls and heals wounded hearts. Knowing that Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life, Christians throughout the world, pray for those people who, although they would never second-guess a doctor’s prescription, continue to second-guess God.

We point to all who are sick in their sins, that not all medicines are the same and not all saviors are equal. We pray that they may hear, what Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. I am the only Way to the Father.’

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus send Your Spirit upon a world that still thinks it can improve upon Your sacrifice. Let them repent and see clearly that You are the Way to eternal life. In Your Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html