All roads lead to God
July Fourth has now come and gone for another year. Many people celebrated the Fourth as a holiday with cookouts, games, camping, etc., followed by fireworks. Some friends and us celebrated by sleeping in, eating too much, playing games, and then watching the fireworks by Lake Erie. Where we sat by the lake we could see three different fireworks displays at Marblehead, Catawba Island, and Put-in-Bay.
I wonder how many of us stopped to think what July 4, 1776 was like for the people who signed the Declaration of Independence? They pledged their lives and fortunes in order to gain independence from the tyranny of taxation and freedom from the king’s rule for themselves and future generations. I thank God for them.
Today we are sitting around eating and drinking while “Rome” is burning. Our freedoms and our fortunes are going up in smoke like fireworks, a nice display while it lasts but when it is over, darkness will set in upon us as it did after the fireworks.
As I reflect on our travels the past year, we took many different roads to reach our destinations. I thought about what many people say about heaven. Something like, all roads will get you there if you are sincere and do your best.
I have come to the conclusion in my own studies that all roads lead to God. All religions, atheists, agnostics, etc., all will get you to God. But there is only one way to God that will allow you to stay in his presence, that is through faith in Jesus as your Lord.
Jesus said, I am the Way to the Father that allows us to abide in his presence. John 14:6. All roads to God that don’t go through Jesus will end up at the great white throne where God sits. Everyone one whose name is not in the Book of Life will meet God to be judged according to their evil deeds and cast into the lake of fire. Revelations 20:12-15.
All those whose names are in the book of life are there because they believed in Christ’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness and followed his way through life. If you have not already done so, ask God to “…blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalms 51:9-11.
May you have a good week unless you have other plans. Maranatha. (Maranatha means, “Our Lord Cometh.”)
The Rev. Elton Yutzy is the associate pastor of the Maranatha Community Fellowship Church in Plain City. He can be reached by e-mail at revelton@gmail.com.
