John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Have you seen movies where the characters use dialogue containing “Way”, “No Way” as terms of belief and unbelief? Unfortunately the characters are usually stoners or plastics, so the importance of belief and unbelief gets lost in the scene.

There are religions which embrace Jesus but carry a doctrine of grace plus works. Some believe you have to work for grace. Still others only refer to Jesus as a prophet or a great teacher, yet are selective in what they will or will not believe about His teachings and ministry.

Others scream “No way!” because they are offended by this very verse. Jesus is saying no one comes to God except by believing on Him. I can respect the atheist who says there is no God. He does not reject the way, he simply rejects the whole concept of creation. For them life is just a horrible mistake, an accident of nature. I can respect that because they are not being hypocrites.

How can anyone pick and choose what they will and will not believe about Jesus Christ? It is one thing to be unlearned, and another to claim you believe and then deny the truth. I don’t claim to know everything, but I won’t disconnect from correction and enlightenment. As soon as I tell myself “I’ve got it!” I have taken the first step towards pride and away from humility.

Follow the Way, seek the Truth, have the abundant life.

John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

“Why Lord why” are words that often fall upon the lips of those of us that have suffered sudden loss. We want someone to make sense of sudden tragic death. In our pain nothing makes sense. In our loss we feel an emptiness that was once filled with the words, actions, experiences and love of a person who is now gone from among us.

While there was still a glimmer of hope, no matter how small we pray. We pray not for the will of God, we pray for what we want, restoration of life and love. That is not selfish, that is love longing to pour itself out upon the object of our affection. Love is never wrong.

I found myself praying words I had never used before to my Father. “This is why You sent Your Son.” My understanding and my intention was to remind God that the love He has shed in our hearts is because of the faith we have in His Son Jesus Christ. That love and that faith is the power of God and it is meant for good. Sadly it doesn’t bend to our will and replace the will of God.

We know the love of God and on these days when why cannot be answered with words, it can be answered by using the love that is in us to let others know the love of Christ. Love doesn’t die.

May the God of all comfort embrace you in His arms because He knows what it means to live and die, but more than that He knows how to love.