We live in a society that does a great deal of traveling. Before starting, people look at maps and some have electronic equipment sitting on the dashboard that maps the way for them. Not many depend on friends to personally give directions. Some folks, though they know the way, just cannot give proper directions. I have always endeavored to give careful, precise instructions when telling people how to get to Heaven. It is so sad to observe TV audiences in the thousands listening to someone tell them words that they are depending upon which cannot possibly get them to Heaven.
Isaiah penned, “An highway shall be there, and a way” (Isaiah 35:8). It seems to me that he is telling us that there is one way with two descriptions. In the New Testament, we learn that Jesus did come, and He performed miracles aplenty proving His divinity. The eyes of the blind were opened, the ears of the deaf were unstopped and the lame were able to walk. There is no shortage of the evidence of Christ having come to Earth and performing the work God gave Him to do.
In the great sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Isaiah also declared that “the unclean [sinner] shall not pass over it.” I believe, therefore, that there is a way to Heaven.
Now, the question is, “Where is the way?” Many answers are given by many teachers, but the answer we need comes from Jesus. He explained to His disciples that He was going away to prepare a place for them and that He would come to receive them where He is. Thomas questioned him asking, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am THE WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:5-6). Please note Jesus did not say, “I am a way”, but “I am THE WAY.” People often say, “There are many ways to Heaven, and I’m going one of the ways.”
Next is, where do I get information concerning the way? In John 5:39 Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Me who? “I am the way.” Every word of instruction is found in the sacred Word of God. Hence, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Now, how does one get in the way? Jesus says, “No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). What is that power that is used by the Father to draw a man to the way? Paul describes it when he says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
The only way to get in the way to Heaven is by hearing: “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17), by believing (Acts 16:31), repenting (Luke 13:3), confessing Jesus to be the Christ (Romans 10:10) and being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). There is just one WAY into the body of Christ.
