Thomas said, "Lord, we do not know where You are going. How do we know the way?" And Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
83% of people in a Harris poll said they believe in heaven. 63% expect to go there when they die.
Scripture Focus: John 14:4-6; 1 Peter 1:3-4
The disciples are listening. Jesus is talking about a place He's going to prepare. There are many rooms in His Father's house. He has place reserved for them.
And Thomas just says what everybody is thinking: "Lord, we don't know where You're going. How do we know the way (John 14:5)?"
I love Thomas for this.
And Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
In camping ministry, we used to tell lead counselors: when anyone asks where the bathroom is, don't tell them: "Okay, find the brown tree, hang a left, kind of a big rock, hang a right." No. You take them.
Jesus doesn't give you a set of directions to the Father's house. He says, "I'm the way. You follow Me."
Listen—this may be obvious, but it's just not communicated enough. When you die, you're going to one of two places. If you do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you're headed to a Christless eternity in hell. God does not want you to go there. He doesn't delight in the punishment of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11).
He says, "I'll show you the way to My Father's house."
How do I know if I'm invited? He says, "If anyone comes to Me, I'll take you there." Blessed are those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 13:8). How do I know if my name is recorded? If you believe in who He is and what He's done.
How long does it take to get there? Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5 to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Jesus tells the thief on the cross, "Today you'll be with Me in paradise (Luke 23:43)." Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, "In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye"—you're going to wake up in glory if you're in Christ.
And here's what's waiting for you. First Peter 1:3-4 says you've been born again to a living hope and you have received an inheritance—imperishable, undefiled, unfading—reserved in heaven. Did you catch that? The Scripture says your place in heaven is reserved for you.
Who's in heaven? Your loved ones in Christ. The heroes of the faith. And the best part—as Ryle said—is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He says, "I am a dying man in a dying world. All before me is unseen. The world to come is a harbor unknown, but Christ is there and that is enough."
You shouldn't live another day without the certainty that when you die, you'll wake up face to face with Jesus.
Do you know with certainty that you're going to heaven—not because you're a good person, but because you've followed Jesus who is the way?
What would change about the way you live today if you were genuinely thrilled about where you're going?
Is there someone in your life who doesn't know the way? What are you going to tell them?
Stay dialed in