Do You Know the Way?

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

This morning when I read my Bible, God showed me something I hadn't thought of before. He's like that. He saves beautiful insights for me for times I especially need to see them.

I read how Jesus called His disciples. First He called Andrew. Then Andrew brought his brother, Simon, to Jesus and Jesus gave him the name Peter. The next day Jesus called Philip and he told his brother, Nathanael, about the Messiah whom Moses prophesied about--Jesus of Nazareth.

"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.

That's something I might say. "Are you kidding me? A famous person from Carmichael?"

Nathanael went along with Philip and heard Jesus say, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

"How do you know me?"

"I saw you under the fig tree."

Then Nathanael said, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God."

You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that. To tell you the truth, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. John 1:50, 51

Jesus painted a picture of Jacob's ladder, but this morning I realized that Jesus is the ladder. I imagined a glorious stairway to Heaven. I had to find a picture for you and I picked one that has sides, because I didn't want you to fall off on the way up. The truth is, Jesus is the stairway and neither you nor I can fall off. He is our protection and He will make sure we get there.

Thank You, Awesome Lord, for the adventure in Your word for people in the family of God. Thank You for providing the way and thank you for leading us through this life and Home. What amazing love! 

Highway to Heaven

John and I spent a lot of time at Lake Almanor this summer. A walk on wooded trail or drive through Lassen National Forest is a heavenly experience. It makes me feel close to God, but it also makes me think of the hope we have in Christ.

Since the first day we believed in Jesus as our Savior, that the precious blood He shed was for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with God, we have been on a highway to heaven. While I'd like to think of it as a jeweled staircase or a treelined path, Jesus gives another perspective. He said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me," Luke 9:23, and "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world," John 16:33.

Jesus showed us what the highway to heaven looks like. He went by the name that even today brings rejection and persecution, but He gives us this encouragement: "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it," John 14:12-14, and "If you love me, keep my commands. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever," John 14:15-16.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is always with us, for comfort, counsel, peace, and strength. We have nothing to fear for greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world.

The highway to heaven is not the popular way that leads to destruction, but it is the narrow way that leads to eternity with our Lord. And surely His mercy and love will follow us all the days of our lives, on earth and in heaven.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the hope of heaven. Thank you for showing us the way, even being the way (John 14:6). Thank you for the peace and supernatural strength to follow you. Amen.