Archive article 49

“I am the way, the truth and the life”

Jesus Christ

(New Testament, Gospel of John 14:6)

 

It was C.S. Lewis who pointed out that the real reason anyone can believe in Christ is not for the benefit of what he thinks he might get out of his faith, but because what He says is true. The words are put in the mouth of a devil as a temptation for anyone starting to think of Jesus Christ:

“Believe this, not because it is true, but for some other reason”

(The Screwtape Letters, p.109 McMillan, New York)

 

It’s true – we normally follow what we are interested in.

Football enthusiasts go the stadium: Music lovers to the theatre. Those who love art follow the exhibitions in the various towns. This is very natural. If I love the mountains I don’t go to the sea! I organise my life and even my holidays so as to cultivate my interests. When a friend arrived at our home carrying a magazine about cars, it wasn’t hard to guess where his interests lay.

 

A field of study which concentrates on people’s interests is that of publicity. Whether on TV or in magazines or newspapers we will be invited to understand that a given product:

“is-made-just-for-me”, it’s “what-I’ve-always-wanted-and-been-looking-for”, and

“will-resolve-all-of-my-problems”, etc.

 

This is also true when it comes to the Gospel. Many people are attracted to Christ because they believe that He can resolve their problems. They think that if God comes into the equation, there might be a solution to their problems: if God is on their side, maybe there is a way out of their difficulties.

 

As a pastor I’m not indifferent to this type of reasoning. I understand that if I present Christ in an attractive way, my hearer might come back and start attending the Church. I recognise that even the phrase: “Jesus loves you” is very attractive in a world where loneliness is so widespread and so many people live alone.

 

I recall how even I turned to Christ because I was afraid to die. I had fallen in the swimming pool and ended up in coma in hospital for something like 24 hours. When I came round I remember thinking: “What would have happened if I had died?” And I knew that the answer was that I would have gone straight to hell. Jesus didn’t figure in my life in a significant way at all. I had no doubt. I went to church, yes, but I’d not really begun an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ such as I have today. I was scared to die and began to think about Christ in new ways.

 

Lewis’s point, however, goes beyond this sort of attraction and interest.

 

He’s wanting me to know that at bottom, any faith in Christ and His Word (the Bible) isn’t rooted on whether it works or is successful. It’s true that Christ’s own words were sometimes very, very attractive. When he told the folk who were worn down with all their attempts to transform themselves by obeying religious rules “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” – this was a fantastic invitation to rest in His promises and He would not have let them down. But when He went further and said that He was the truth which had come down from heaven (the Gospel of John) He was saying that although He would be a place of rest, that could be a foundation which wouldn’t give way because it was true!

 

You can build on the truth! Lies are sinking sands. . . you put your foot in it and sink deeper with every attempt to get out! This is the tragedy of all the lies which are circulating these days through the mass media. It is hard, very hard, to know exactly what is going on.

 

With Jesus this isn’t so. There’s no doubt where you stand. His promises are true and that’s why the same Bible verse which speaks of him as truth also says that He is the way and the life!

 

And that’s why when we meet as a Church our prime time together is given to seeking Him and His Word. When you find Him you’ve found life and truth and great happiness.

 

His Word is a rock which doesn’t ever give way!

Please feel free to come to one of our services – they really are Jesus seeking ones!

Pastor Paul Finch