Arriving at the right place
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
We are where?!!
Recently, I was scheduled to attend a conference in Pennsylvania, which was a long commute from where I live in Washington State. After hours of travel, I landed at the airport and used my go-to rideshare app to request a ride to my hotel. I typed in the hotel name, confirmed it in the app, and waited for the driver to arrive.
Once in the car, exhausted from the journey, I dozed off during the long ride. Eventually, the driver tapped the brakes and said, “We’re here.” I woke up—only to discover we weren’t at my hotel at all. Instead, we had arrived at a strip mall with a name similar to the hotel, but it was miles away in the opposite direction. My heart sank. After all that travel, I had missed the very meeting I had come for—simply because I was headed to the wrong destination.
That moment reminded me of something Jesus said:
“On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”
(Matthew 7:22–23, NLT)
These people Jesus was talking about were sincere—but sincerely wrong. They believed they were on the right path, just as I had, but they weren’t. They were religious, active, and even did impressive things in Jesus’ name—but they were not born again, and therefore, not saved (1 John 3:3).
It’s a sobering truth!
Sincerity is not the same as salvation. Just like my driver took me somewhere I didn’t intend to go—based on a small but critical error—many will one day realize they were headed the wrong direction spiritually. And tragically, their final destination will not be heaven, but eternal separation from God (Matthew 25:41).
The time to double-check your spiritual destination is now!
Jesus is the only way, don’t get it wrong! make sure you are in fact headed to the right place! Jesus said it clearly, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
There is no more important issue than your eternal destiny. Thankfully, the Bible is abundantly clear on how a person can be saved: You must admit that you are a sinner, ask God for forgiveness, and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior who died for your sins and rose again. This involves faith and repentance, turning away from your sins and accepting God's grace.
Here are the simple facts according to the Bible
We are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23). We are born with sin (Psalm 51:5), and we all personally choose to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8). Sin is what makes us unsaved. Sin is what separates us from God. Sin is what has us on the path to eternal destruction. Because of our sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23). While the physical consequence of sin is physical death, that is not the only kind of death that results from sin. All sin is ultimately committed against an eternal and infinite God (Psalm 51:4). Because of that, the just penalty for our sin is also eternal and infinite. What we need to be saved from is eternal destruction (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).
How can you be saved and what do you need to do?
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). God has already done all of the work. All you must do is receive, in faith, the salvation God offers (Ephesians 2:8-9). Fully trust in Jesus alone as the payment for your sins. Believe in Him, and you will not perish (John 3:16). God is offering you salvation as a gift. All you have to do is accept it. Jesus is the way of salvation (John 14:6).
Here is a simple prayer you can use
Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father. I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please you. I choose you. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving—a person like you. Restore me, Jesus. Live in me. Love through me. Thank you, God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Did you do it?
Have you, in faith, received Jesus Christ as your Savior because of what you have read here? If so, please let me know by replying to this email message and state: “I trusted in Christ as Savior today.”
And, I pray that you have!
Sincerely, yours in Christ,
Mike French