March 15
“Your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left,’” Isaiah 30:20-21.
When people have a pastor who teaches and preaches the Word of God in all its truth and purity, they really are blessed. Christians should thank God when their eyes behold a faithful teacher of both the Law and the Gospel. Thank God when your ears hear someone who is telling you, “This is the way, walk in it.” Thank God for those who keep you on the straight and narrow way to eternal life.
What is that way? In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus spoke of the way when He said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it,” Matthew 7:13-14.
How many different ways are there to get to heaven? Is the way to heaven like going from one place to another? If you are traveling, you can go from one place to another by taking a number of different roads. Eventually, you will arrive at the place you wish to visit. Indeed, there are many people who think that there are various ways to get to heaven. However, Jesus said that the way to heaven is narrowed down to ONE!
When the Lord Jesus told His disciples that He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would be captured, condemned, and crucified, His disciples were very upset. Then He told them, “‘Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,’” John 14:1-6. Jesus clearly says, “There is only one way!” Faith in Him for the forgiveness of all your sins is the way to go.
The New Testament apostles and evangelists taught the same saving truth: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved,” Acts 4:12.
Today, thank God for every faithful pastor who will not deviate to the right or to the left of God’s Word, but who will direct you to the Lord Jesus, God’s Son and the only Savior for all sinners.
We pray: Dear heavenly Father, continue to bless Your people with faithful shepherds who will lead Your people to a true knowledge of sin and the only Savior. Keep us in the faith and make us faithful witnesses to other people with whom we come into contact who are still living in spiritual darkness. We ask it in the name of Jesus, Your Son and our Savior. Amen.