Shepherding

If there is a God and if there if life after death, then the most important thing in the world is knowing the God of life after death. 

 The rest of this article hinges on those two beliefs.  Is this God someone who gives multiple ways to life after death?  Or is this God someone who gives one way?  This question splits people down the middle all over the world doesn’t it?  Those who believe in the multiple ways thought seem to be so kind and gracious.  They seek not to offend or judge anyone because after all “we are all human and make mistakes.” 

Those in the other camp, the one way camp, can come across rigid, judgmental, and intolerant of other views. 

How about you?  Have you come to a belief that there is a God and an after life?  If so, have you decided there are multiple ways to God or just one way?  If there are multiple ways then almost any way will do, right?  Who is to say that any way is better than another? 

If there is one way, then the next question becomes, which one way?

Before we go any further, I want us to ask ourselves some direct questions.  Is there one way to you or multiple ways?  If someone wants to be your friend, marry you, please you, or be acceptable to you-do you accept different “ways”?  If someone wanted to kill your enemies, would you accept that?  If someone wanted you to give them 8 ways to make you happy, would you accept that?   If we are honest with ourselves we will admit that to be accepted by us, we have some rules and regulations.  We have some boundaries and limits.  Do we accept lavish gifts from a lover who never talks to us or spends time with us?  Don’t we have some things in mind in our heart and mind when we think of “true friend” or potential marriage partner?  Does it make sense that we, the creation of a higher being, aren’t like that being in this sense?  We are particular when it comes to friends and lovers.  Is it logical, possible, and likely that the one who created us might have made us like him in that way?

You Have Your Belief, I Have Mine

That statement above is correct, 100%.  But, what if one of our beliefs is wrong, incorrect?  Is it too much trouble to invest a little time into one’s eternity and check out if “The One Way” theory is correct?  One famous actor was interviewed this year and made the statement “Yeah there could be an afterlife, but we don’t know, so, let’s focus on this life and make it the point of life.”  I totally agree that one should focus on this life, as long as this life is pleasing to the Maker of this life.  What if my “being good” and loving humanity practices are not as important as my heart, motives, thought life, and actions behind closed doors?

Jesus Was Loving and Tolerant, Right?!

I totally agree!  Jesus was loving.  Jesus was accepting.  Jesus was very tolerant.  He loved us enough to take on our humanity, skin, limitations.  He accepts anyone who would repent and trust in Him as the Son of God, the Lord, and the Savior of human’s sins.   If a person was caught in sin (adultery, hypocrisy, lust, pride, envy, etc.) Jesus totally loved them.  He healed imperfect people.  He touched lepers.  He engaged people of every demographic.  Yet, in His love, in His acceptance, in His grace, in His tolerance, He did not change who He was, nor the plan that His Father had given Him: serve and save humanity from their biggest problem-their sin.  Jesus did not adopt become a sinner to save sinners, Jesus took on our sins to save us.  Jesus didn’t teach “you’re okay, I’m okay” He taught “Go and sin no more.”  Jesus did not just show the way, He became the way.  Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father accept through me (John 14:6).  According to intolerance, multiple ways to God thinking, and judgmental thinking, Jesus broke all those rules of our culture.  Yet, at the same time, He stayed true to Himself.  At the same time He gave a definitive answer-there is a way to God.  Don’t be confused, I am the way, He said.  Don’t be discouraged, there is a way to afterlife with your good and gracious maker-turn from your way, any way, and trust in me, The Way. 

At least there is a way!  I’m glad there is one definitive way.  Yes, that is my view, my opinion, but it does come from the reliable book-The Bible.  It does come from the most respected teacher of all time, Jesus Christ.  Hope you will investigate!  Hope you will not take the bad example of a friend or family member, or stranger who is not living as a follower of Jesus, but just a preacher of Jesus as a deterrent to knowing God through Jesus.  Followers of Christ make mistakes, they commit acts of injustice, intolerance, judgmental behavior, hypocrisy, etc.  God will convict them of those sins if they are truly Jesus’ followers.  Perhaps they have never truly trusted in Jesus but are merely people of religion.  There are hundreds of followers of Jesus I have met who love with sincerity, who are kind, who find it hard to sin in society’s most revered ideals because God is changing them from the inside. 

If you ever become ready to follow the Jesus of the Bible, remember your ABC’s

Admit-Admit your sins (lying, adultery, pride, lust, jealousy, outbursts of anger, self-love vs. Love for God and others, dishonoring of parents, making anyone or anything the love/desire of your life-”idolatry”) Jesus taught us to “repent” which literally means “have a change of mind”.  Repent of your own way of getting to God and heaven, turning to the one way of Christ.

Believe-Belief/Faith/Trust-these are all similar terms for what Jesus requires of His followers.  We must trust that Jesus is the Son of God.  That Jesus alone is the savior of our sins by dying a death on a cross that satisfied God’s price for sins.  And that Jesus rose again 3 days later to defeat death and to prove that He brings about life after death and power over death.  Jesus’ resurrection proves once and for all that there is life after death.  Read in the Gospel books in the Bible how Jesus appeared to His followers after His death to prove this.

Commit-  As we repent we change our minds and turn to a new way of thinking and living.  We are commiting our lives to Christ’s way.  As you read the Bible and obey what you learn, Jesus will become a greater and greater part of your life, changing you from within, and helping you to live in a way that is pleasing to God the Father.  Most important questions about life, faith, and religion will be answered by a consistent reading of the Bible and by time spent with other followers of Christ at churches.

Thank you for reading the Most Important Thing In Life!  For me it has been life-changing and challenging!  All my most important questions have been answered.  The peace I have most desired is always present.  My purpose to know God and obey Him serves to give me meaning in this life.