Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

It's not often when the Lord and the political candidates come into agreement.

That being said, both our Creator and the candidates agree: the world is headed in a most perilous direction and has set its foot upon a most precarious path. On the other hand, we must admit they differ radically on how to correct humankind's sinful condition.

Some time ago at the St. Louis airport, I had a discussion with a man about heaven. Pointing at the board of arrivals and departures, he said, "If I want to get to Dallas from here, I can take United Airlines, or American or, well, I can go any number of ways. If I want to get to heaven, I believe I can follow any number of deities: Jesus, maybe. Buddha, possibly. Allah, perhaps. They're all going to get me where I want to go."

If that man was editing the Bible, I'm sure he would change Jesus' words to read, "I am one of the ways, part of the truth, and one kind of life. No one can get into heaven unless they have some kind of religion, are good and gentle and generous and sincere in what they believe."

My friends, lest you never hear it again, I want you to know, Jesus didn't say He was one of the ways to heaven or even the best way to heaven. Jesus said He was the only way to forgiveness, salvation and eternal joy.

Now if you're thinking that's not very open-minded, I couldn't agree with you more.

But I would add, open-mindedness can be grossly over-rated. The police aren't open-minded when you take a car that isn't yours. You can tell them that "One car is as good as any other," but I doubt if they -- or the judge who hears your case -- will find that to be an acceptable defense.

When your child goes to a birthday party and you, a few hours later, go to pick him up, does it make any difference which child you bring home with you? When some irate and worried parents show up at your door, will they buy into your open-minded statement: "I didn't think you would mind all that much since all children are basically the same."

Yes, there are times when open-mindedness is a good thing, and there are times when it is just plain wrong and ridiculous.

Demoting Jesus and making Him one of many paths to paradise is incredibly wrong and foolish.

Because of His fulfillment of the many prophecies that foretold His coming, because He did things only God's Son could do, because He lived a perfect life and gave Himself sacrificially for us, Jesus remains unique. Most importantly, Jesus rose from the dead and thereby has shown Himself to be all that Scripture claims: He is the Reconciler of God and man.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, send Your Holy Spirit upon the world so humankind may see how very foolish they are when they try to make Jesus less than He is. May they be brought to faith where they can proclaim Him as the Lamb of God who has taken away the sins of the world. This I ask in His Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Song 4-5    Acts 7:1-21

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