Jesus answered,
“I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
This verse may be familiar to many of us. The phrase, “…the way and the truth and the life” may easily roll off our tongues, because we have heard it quoted many times. We may have committed it to memory if we grew up in Sunday School or Awana.
But as we write it out (are you Writing the WORD with us this month? It’s not too late to download the LIFE bookmark here), we may be struck by the combination of these three descriptors: way, truth, life.
These are an interesting combination. As we focus on the words individually, it prompts us to ask, “What do they have in common?”
What do way and truth have to do with life?
Jesus could have said, “I am the hope and the peace and the joy.” Or – “I am the purpose and the reason and the end.” Many combinations might seem to be more logical than, “the way, the truth, and the life.”
Without going deep in the Greek or consulting theological writing, it seems way denotes the path or the journey.
If we have a destination in mind, our Map app may offer lots of routes for getting there. If our stomach growls, there are lots of ways to satisfy it. We are accustomed to options for the choices we make.
You may have heard some suggest there are many ways to get to heaven. Having a plethora of options on Earth could make many resent the suggestion that eternal salvation has only “one way.” Those naysayers might even call this suggestion intolerant.
And that’s where the next word becomes important: truth. By its very definition, truth is exclusive. While many suggestions and options can be presented, what matters is what is the truth. Anyone can say with confidence, “I think you can get to heaven if your good deeds outweigh your bad…if you’ve done your best…if you’ve tried to be a good person…”
At the end of the day, all the “I thinks” and “I believes” mean nothing. Have you ever tried to get out of a speeding ticket by telling the officer, “I believed the speed limit here was 55” when he informed you it was a 25 mile-per-hour zone?
Believing — passionately — that the moon is inhabited by purple people does not make it so.
Believing — with all your heart — that you have a fairy godmother who, upon your death bed, will appear and escort you to heaven will not make it happen.
Believing — quite confidently — that I-40 will take you to Florida will leave you disappointed.
Our passion, devotion, and confidence will make zero difference in achieving our destination goal. What matters is the truth.
Truth was not only used to describe Jesus. Truth also was featured prominently in the Armor of God:
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…”
Ephesians 6:14a
When we don our spiritual armor, the belt of truth goes on first. Perhaps that is to remind us that truth is the foundation of everything else. Jesus not only described Himself as, “the truth,” He also declared in John 17:17, “… your word is truth.”
As followers of Christ, we put on the armor of God daily so that we can take our stand against the enemy. Ours is a spiritual battle. We know we stand against the enemy. We also stand behind the truth.
If we want to know the way, we must have truth to show us the right way. And that’s the means to reach life … eternal life. Real life. Life that matters.
Is God’s Word your source for finding the way, the truth, and the life? Is it your go-to for answers to life’s questions?
When the world argues there’s some gray in the decision, His Word may reveal clearly what is black and white.
When the world tries to push, pull, and tug us off course, the Word of God is our compass pointing due north.
The Psalmist describes it as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We need that illumination to live well and stand firm in today’s world — and we need to understand the importance of modeling that truth for our children.
Seeking the way, the truth, and the life is a daily choice:
- Get up.
- Will yourself to HIS way.
- Put on your belt of truth.
- Immerse yourself in the Word of God.
- Rejoice in the life you have in Him.
Yesterday is gone. If you sought truth from scripture yesterday and walked in the light of that truth, you chose well. But today, the battle begins all over again. Find the way, put on your belt of truth, and celebrate your eternal life in Jesus … TODAY.
Each day is a fresh start — for good or otherwise. Protect yourself from the lies of the enemy today, by choosing to believe Jesus. He alone is the way, the truth, and the life.
This past Friday, I shared a BIG announcement concerning the monthly Write the WORD Bible study and journaling series! Hope you’re as excited as I am!
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