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Don't Be Dead Wrong

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Nearly six BILLION people can't be wrong, right? Wrong. Sure, sometimes the popular opinion can be correct, but other times it is completely false. Did you know that for a long time the popular opinion was that the earth was flat and the moon might be made out of cheese? Oh yeah, and if you'll remember it was the popular opinion that an innocent man should be crucified on a Cross because they didn't like what He was saying.

And times sure haven't changed much.

Today there are nearly six billion people who don't like what Jesus is saying and therefore don't have a relationship with Him, and I guarantee you that if Christ were walking the earth today they would want to crucify Him again.

For what? For His love, compassion, mercy and incredible teaching? No, the popular opinion was just fine with those things. What turned them into a murderous mob were statements like these:

"To see me is to see the Father" (John 14:9)

"If you knew me, you would know my Father also." (John 8:19)

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh and that trusting Him was the only way to get to heaven. People are cool with someone being an excellent moral example or polished teacher, but when you start saying that you are right and everyone else is wrong, the fists start flying. 2000 years ago or today - it doesn't matter. People get rankled when their religion gets roasted and toasted by the truth.

So yeah, it comes down to this: either Jesus was wrong and there really are many ways to get to God, or Jesus was right and there is only one way to God. You can't have it both ways, which puts us back to our original question: can nearly six billion people be wrong? Yes, and here's why:

• All religious teachers (except for One) say that you are "saved" (fulfilled, reincarnated, etc.) by "doing" the things their teachings require. Only Jesus taught that people are saved by trusting that He died on the Cross and came back from the dead.
• All religious teachers (except for One) claimed to speak FOR God. Only Jesus claimed to BE God. Now if all religions really led to God, Jesus' claim of being the only way (John 14:6) would be false.
• All religious teachers (except for One) are permanently in the grave or are one day going to be. Only Jesus backed up His claim of being the only one right by coming back from the dead and appearing to more than 500 people, many of whom died for their belief that Jesus is the only way.

So basically it comes down to this: either Christianity is right and every other religion is wrong, or Christianity is wrong and other religions are right. Again, you can't have it both ways: it's either by doing or by believing. If Jesus is right, then everyone else is wrong.

Does this seem like a tough a choice to make? It shouldn't. Remember that every other religion will put you through a boatload of self-righteous routines and rituals so you can earn "salvation" from either an angry god, an impersonal cosmic force, or no god at all. Wow- sounds like good times to me! What Jesus asks is that you simply put your trust in Him so He can give you an eternal relationship of purpose and value with the loving God who made you.

Do you know what is really ironic? I would agree that all roads lead to God. They all lead to His judgment, except for the one marked "Jesus," which leads to His mercy. The problem with following other paths is that it ends up not only being wrong, but dead wrong.

So what do you say to someone who gets in your face and asks, "How can you say that Jesus is the only way to God???"

Here's what I say:

"I didn't say that. Jesus did, and I just happen to believe Him. Here's why..."

Head: What you need to know about this truth

Jesus claimed that He is the only way to God (John 14:6) and proved His claims by living a perfect life, dying on the cross, and coming back from the dead, therefore eliminating the need for any other religion. Therefore, any religious teaching that does not have trusting Jesus as the only hope of salvation is false.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

The fact that Jesus Christ is the only way to God should make us feel both grateful and sorrowful. Grateful that we have found the true way and a restored relationship with our heavenly Father, and sorrowful that there are so many people who refuse to hear the truth or have never had the chance. This week, take some time to reflect on how incredibly amazing it is that you have been given the gift of eternal life. As well, think about the huge responsibility we all have to let people know that there is only one way to God! By the way, there are two ways to look at Jesus' claim of being the only way to God. One is from an exclusive standpoint- meaning He is right and all other "ways" are wrong. While this is true, the other way to look at it (or explain it), is that Jesus is also making an inclusive claim- meaning, "I want everyone to find the way to God through Me so that no one has to spend eternity in hell." Looking at it this way can really help people not get as defensive.

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

Think about this scenario. You know the one and only cure for cancer, but you are afraid to tell your friends about it because they are trying to find their "own" cure- even though you know their methods will lead to death. Would you keep your mouth shut? Of course not! You wouldn't give a flip about "offending" people by telling them they are wrong because you would be saving their lives! Now put that in the perspective of an eternal soul. You know the "cure" for hell...are you afraid to tell people they are wrong? I hope not, because they need to hear the truth. If you want help in explaining it, go to this link, or e-mail them this link, have them read it and ask them what they thought about it. This week, remember the words of a great preacher named Charles Spurgeon:

"Brethren, do something; do something, do something! While societies and unions make constitutions, let us win souls. I pray you, be men of action all of you. Get to work and quit yourselves like men... Our one aim is to win souls; and this we are not to talk about, but do in the power of God!"