THE GOOD NEWS COMES CLOSER

 Acts 7:55-60; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

Introduction

Recalling the Garden of Eden experience, humanity lost the way and connection to the Father, our Creator, "He [God] drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life." Genesis 3:24 (ESV). Isaiah puts it as, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way." Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) 

Finding the Way

In the prophet's words, humanity sought to come to God for salvation and connection but had always been unsuccessful so he says, "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear." Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV)

Jesus is the Way of the Father

Meanwhile, the Hebrews writer comes in to say, "Consequently, He [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him [Jesus], since he [Jesus] always lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25 (ESV). In view of this, all those who approach God through Jesus for salvation are reconnected to the Father. Jesus, the way of the Father.

Humanity has earnestly sought to find our path back to God and reconnect to His glorious presence. But all our struggles have proved futile. The incarnate Christ came to pave the way saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7 (ESV) 

No Other Way

In all the world's religions, Jesus is the only one who declared in truth the way to the Father. Any other route purported to reconnect us to God Almighty is false, "No one comes to the Father except through me." Therefore, we can boldly say that "Jesus, the [only] way of the Father".

People who come to the Christian faith have not been left without challenges both within and without right from the beginning. The first martyr, Stephen, "Full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." Acts 7:55 (ESV). When he told the people what he saw, "They cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him." Acts 7:57-58 (ESV)

The Christian Challenge

Walking on the way of the Father has always come with much struggle and challenges. Many people have lost their earthly lives due to their confidence in Jesus, the way of the Father. But the confidence of our hope lies in the truth, "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:12 (ESV)

We are encouraged to walk on this way of the Father when Peter exalted, "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:13-17 (ESV)

Precious one, how difficult has it been so far for you to walk in the way of God? Life experiences compel or even force you to deny the right way of God and hop onto the ways the world provides. Jesu the way of the Lord may not be of comfort in this world today. 

Remember this, it is always difficult and unbearable to have your path against the ranging storm meanwhile, you will have a free and easy flow in the way of the raging storm.

It has, is, and will always be challenging to walk on the true way to the Father since "even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him." John 14:17 (ESV). It is as though the Christian is moving against the world for we see and know what the world cannot see and know.

Jesus, the way of the Lord has declared the infinite help to empower us over all the arsenals of the enemy of the true way of God. Jesus says, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever," John 14:16 (ESV) Keeping Jesus' commandments is actually a walk on the way of the Father as He puts it, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18 (ESV) Now the Advocate or the Helper sent to us is actually Jesus, the way of the Father.

Conclusion

You may be going through some struggles to keep the commandments of Jesus which is a pre-requisite to seeing God's glory in His provided way for us.

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." John 14:21 (ESV)

Our help comes from Christ who is always with us even in death, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:56 (ESV)

Let us hold fast to the way of the Father, Jesus Christ because He sees and knows all our struggles.

Shalom aleikhem...