I Amናሙና

John 3:16 has become a kind of staple verse in the Christian faith. If you grew up going to church, you probably memorized it or heard it many times, and even if you didn’t grow up around Christians, you might have still heard it. It says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son; that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life.” This verse summarizes the salvation message — we have to believe in Jesus to have our sins forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven with God. Jesus also told his followers that he was the only way to Heaven in his sixth I Am statement. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” There is absolutely no other way to God except through Jesus, but at the same time, Jesus also is God, so he is the truth, and he also gives eternal life, so he is the life. He is simultaneously all three of those things. When Jesus was on earth, and in our world today, there is a lot of emphasis placed on being a “good person,” doing the right things, having good vibes, or being kind. And while it’s not a bad idea at all to be nice to people and make wise decisions, those aren’t the things that are going to give us salvation and eternity with God — only believing in Jesus will give us that. So what Jesus said then is still true today. He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. 

Challenge: What lies have you believed about getting to Heaven? Have you been tempted to believe that “being good” is all that God asks of us? Is there someone in your life who needs to hear that Jesus is the only way to spend eternity in relationship with God? Identify someone in your life who you can tell about Jesus, and take a courageous step today of having a conversation with them about faith.