Surveys among those who call themselves Christians reveal that many believe there is more than one way to God. We live in a day when it is politically incorrect to say that Jesus is the only way to God or to Heaven. After all, if someone is spiritual and sincere, how can we assume that they too will not get to heaven if they don’t know Christ?

Yet, Scripture is very clear on this point. In Acts 4, Peter is speaking before the Sanhedrin after he had been arrested along with John for proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. In his own defense, Peter said this: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

In John 14:6, Jesus made the same claim. He said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This claim was not popular in Jesus’ day and it is not popular in ours. We like to think that I can get to heaven and to God my own way, whatever way that is. But it is not so. It takes the death and resurrection of Jesus who came to pay for our sin and adopt us as His kids to know the Father and receive eternal life. 

Think of the implications of this truth. If Jesus is the only route to a relationship with God, all those in your life who don’t yet know Him have no hope for eternal life. They don’t live in freedom today and won’t for eternity. This is reality. No wishful thinking can change that. 

Too often we are reticent to share our faith. We don’t know how our words will be taken. Yet, if we don’t share the greatest gift we have been given - a transformed life and hope for eternity -  we are withholding the greatest gift any individual could ever receive. There is no need to be obnoxious. We just need to freely share the hope that we have. We should want to depopulate hell and populate heaven. 

I would encourage you to simply pray for opportunities to share the good news with those around you. We are the representatives of Jesus and just as someone introduced us to Him, we want to introduce others to Him. Sharing the good news is the greatest gift you can give to those around you. If you have an opportunity, never waste it. 

Peter wrote this about the salvation we have: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” (1 Peter 1:3-6)

I want that for everyone around me!

Father. Thank you for the transformation you have brought to my life. Give me a deep concern for those around me who don’t yet know you. And give me the courage and boldness of Peter to share what you have done in my life. Amen.