Traffic Numbers

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Not everyone goes to heaven. Got your attention?! Don't stop reading!

I saw a meme on Facebook one day. It said: The fact that there is a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about traffic numbers. 

Now while I don't believe the highway/stairway are fact, this statement otherwise is true. Painfully true.

There is only one way to heaven...through Jesus Christ. There are certain things that must be done to achieve this. We have to realize that God is seeking us. He does love us. So, we must believe in Him, repent of our sins, of which we are all guilty, turn from them, give our lives to Him, proclaim His name, preach the Gospel. No one on earth becomes a saint before receiving Christ. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Not everyone is going to heaven. We are not children of God until we receive Him. Until then we are His enemies. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:10) 

What I say is quite often the same message written in different ways. That's because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. His message has always been simple and will remain simple. It was truth when He spoke it; it will be truth forever. His Word never changes and neither does He. 

His love for mankind will never stop and I'm certain He is grieved in His own way when people reject His simple message: I am the way... Not by works, by self, by any other means. Only by and through Him. That means giving up of self, giving in to Him and trusting in Him. 

We wake up in the morning and know that He has given us another day. We didn't do it. We didn't do anything during the night to achieve it. Many don't think this way. 

Jesus tells us we must come to Him, believe with all our hearts in Him, turn from our day-to-day type of living, and begin to live according to how it has been pointed out in His Word. We can say we adhere to His basic Ten Commandments, but we are guilty of all of them. If we don't love God and put Him first in our life, daily, we've broken the first and most important one! No other gods before Him... Maybe later I will explain them all. 

Sadly, many are rebellious (including believers at times, speaking for self). They don't know His Word, are filled with the pride of life, of accomplishments achieved through their own means, without regarding God. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1John 2:15-17) Are we perfect? No. Will we fail at times? Yes. Can we get back in God's grace? Absolutely.

Let's face it, when was the last time you asked God to help you? Asked for His wisdom or strength instead of devising your own plan? Asked for His protection? Huh? Have I hit a nerve? I'm willing to admit I hit one for myself!

While the highways and stairways are not literal, they do represent what will happen to people who do not receive Christ as the only way to heaven and those who reject Him. But this receiving isn't by just knowing who Jesus is. It's a heart issue, one we know we have undergone if we one day are touched by His Spirit and a change occurs within us. A change that causes us to see God in a different light. I once was blind, but now I see moment. To know deep inside God has changed thoughts, desires, actions, words. To the point where He is on our minds often, daily. To the point where His Word is an important part of our day. To the point where we communicate to Him throughout the day. In other words, we seek Him! 

No, there is no literal highway or stairway. But the road to destruction is deadly and descending. The road to life goes up and few will be ascending to heaven and eternal life by that "Way."

Jesus is always ready to know and hear those who are willing to choose Him. If you really want to know Him, call out with a heart of repentance to Him. He will be elated to take you under His wing. He does love all mankind, just can't accept them all. It takes commitment. It will not be a smooth ride. But it will be worth it. Eternal life or eternal judgment. Which would you choose? 

Do you seek God? Do you read the Bible? Do you pray? Think about it. You may not know as much about God as you believe you do. The narrow gate includes the people who do; the wide gate is where those who do not are wandering. Don't be part of the "few" listed below. 

Matthew 7:13-14 - “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”