Matthew 11:27 (NIV) “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
As harsh, narrow-minded, and non-politically correct as it might sound, there are not many paths to God. There are not many ways in which He can be known. All religions are not ultimately about the same God.
Many people think it unkind to say that Jesus is the only Way to God, the Father, and that people who refuse to enter into relationship with God through Jesus are doomed. But those who think that way are missing the great and overriding truth: God didn’t have to provide ANY way for mankind to know Him. He could have remained a mysterious, unapproachable God who dwells in darkness and inspires only fear in those who reason out His existence. But in His love for mankind, He provided a way – ONE way – by sending His one and only Son, Jesus, into the world to inaugurate God’s kingdom, to demonstrate His power to people, to not only teach them about God, but to show them His glory, and ultimately to die for them and rise again so that, through faith in Him and His work, they could be reconciled to God and live in relationship with Him forever.
There have been many false religions arise in the world, and many corruptions of Christianity, each claiming for themselves the mantle of truth. But, even today, no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Still today, 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) Still today, Jesus is the gate for the sheep, and the only way for those who will be saved (John 10:9). And still today, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
Father, thank You for providing a way for us to be in relationship with You. You are right, the truth is not that You are harsh for providing and accepting only one way. The truth is that You are loving and merciful for providing any way at all! Help me to not only live in Your Way today, but to share the good news of Your Way with lots of others. Amen.