Straight Ways

Ecclesiastes 1:15 - What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered.

God is all powerful. It is only by His hand that all things exist and do what they are intended to do. Only God can make paths straight. It is through Him we walk straight, in align with what we know He requires. His ways are right and true and just. Through Him we see things more clearly. 

I looked up scriptures regarding straight paths/ways because I know there are several references. It boils down to knowing the Lord, trusting in Him above all else and FOLLOWING Him. He knows the way we should go because only He IS the way, truth and life. It takes a leap of faith to get to that place of trusting Him over all other “avenues.”

I’ll let the Word of God speak for itself!! Remember God’s way/path is good and it is straight providing we don’t look or turn to the left or the right. (Proverbs 4:25-26)

Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face.

Psalm 5:8 

They [anyone who chooses God] shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble…

Jeremiah 31:9a

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and 

He shall DIRECT your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 

The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh [direct] the path of the just.

Isaiah 26:7 

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16 

Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be ESTABLISHED [by God].

Proverbs 4:26

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 8:12 

Another thought. It’s difficult to see in the dark. The Bible tells us we are all in darkness before we know Jesus. Our ways are crooked. When we come to Christ the light has shown in our lives…and paths become straight (and narrower).

It’s hard to separate the idea of darkness and crooked paths. We stumble through life without Christ. Then He suggests the path to Christ is narrow (strait). And we know what the straight and narrow means. I find the word strait an interesting word for the verse below! And narrow here means to crowd (literally or figuratively), afflict, throng, or trouble. 

Matthew 7:13-14 - Enter ye in at the strait [narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

A Sunday Message Take-Away

Genesis 6:5 - Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of MAN was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

History is repeating itself. We need to understand and believe this. God showed us, He warns us, the signs are out there. I went to a church in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan two Sundays ago with some girlfriends in Christ. This preacher was not subtle in his sermon, which I like. 

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of MAN was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will DESTROY man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

The EARTH also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will DESTROY them with the earth.”

(‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5-7, 11-13‬)

An ark was made. All who entered were saved by the great flood. Those people were eight in number...a remnant of believers. This small family left behind family and friends for their belief in their God. It will happen again. 

Like the whole account of Noah’s ark and the great flood, Jesus said He is the Door. The ark had only one door. There is only one way to the Father to obtain salvation. Jesus saves. Works do not, government does not, nothing else does. One way: “I am THE way, THE truth, THE life.” In Noah’s day only that handful survived and were saved. It’s a picture of what will happen again.  laugh it off, don’t pooh-pooh the idea. Don’t be one of the end-time scoffers. It should not be 

Anything that goes against the Word of God is rebellion. One biblical definition of "rebel” is that one refuses to come under the authority of someone who is above them. Or, man rebelling against a human king or God. I'm thankful, however, that when we repent of this rebellion and turn to God, whether it is the first time or another, He will forgive. If not...

Psalm 107:10-13 -Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons--b

ecause they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, t

herefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. 

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 

Fall

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 - To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted...

I’ve been getting out to walk several times a week this summer. After a rough last winter of just not feeling well and carotid artery surgery in May, I’m well-recovered. 

The seasons are changing and Fall is fast approaching, which is noticeable on my walks. 

This morning I was contemplating the seasons, especially Fall. I figured Fall was named after the death and fall of leaves. Here was a suggestion: The word fall comes from the Old English word feallan which means “to fall or to die.” 

I wondered whether there was a season of Fall in the Garden before Adam and Eve fell. Too many varying answers. While one might think everything always lived, I’m not so sure things did. Life may have been longer but still ended. The fall of Adam and Eve was of a spiritual nature. 

While man will die physically, one does not need to die spiritually. There is a spiritual death for those who do not believe in God, or do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The fall of man gave us an example of what happens when we are disobedient to God. They were taken out of the garden and not allowed back in. The communion they want hand with God the father ended thus we have a separation from God right from the very beginning of our lives. The only way we can remove that separation is to receive Christ and follow Him. It’s why God the Father sent His Son, to die for our sins, which sins occurred with the fall of man in the garden.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven... (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

I’m so grateful for God’s plan if salvation for all mankind. Thankful He desires restoration and reconnection with Him. It is our decision to make, this eternal spiritual life. Some believe that when we die, we just don’t exist anymore. This is not true. Just as there is eternal like there is eternal death...Jesus spoke these words. Remember, He is also God and God cannot lie:

But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:12) 

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:49-50)

The wicked are those who have not received Jesus, not just know of Him, but have taken Him seriously into their hearts and desire to know Him through His Word. We all fall into the wicked category if we don’t do this. Thankfully, He never stops receiving and forgiving if one finally submits to Him. Only He ends that separation between us and the Father. He is the Door, the Way. Don’t “fall” for the lies that there is no eternal death. 

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture....I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 10:9,14:6)

Peace or Division?

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.”

I was thinking about the division in our country or the world, for that matter. There can be division in anything. When two people do not see 

eye to eye there's division. Especially in politics! 

Then I got to thinking about what Jesus said: Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (Luke 12:51-53)

He is our Prince of Peace, however. The division comes when one believes in Him and another does not. When one's life revolves around Him, one's does not. When I want to talk about the things of God and cannot, to me there is division. We want to talk about those things that are important to us. How hard it is when talk of God just don't happen! 

So this takes me a little deeper, on a subject that also brings division, has some in an uproar. The Church is even divided on this. Go figure. There can be no "one accord" even in her. There are many doctrines, but only one Lord. 

Some day the absolute truth will be known by all people. That absolute truth is starts in the very first scripture above. It's a well-known scripture. Many think they believe it. Many really do not...and that brings division. 

If Jesus says He is the way, truth and life, He is. No one or anything else is. Period. That brings division when others decide that God is a loving God and would not send anyone to hell. I believed it too. That is so far from the truth.

God is holy. He cannot be in the presence of unholiness. That is why Jesus said He is the way, truth and life. To get into God's presence, receive His grace and mercy, we must go through Christ. No other way than by His own Son. Not just by mentally agreeing He is, but knowing in heart, soul and mind. It's that simple. A simple, but sometimes hard to digest, truth. Your goodness will not do it, neither your generosity, kindness, or love alone. Our goodness is as filthy rags. But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6) But through Christ...we are made whole (hah, no division). 

So there is division. And in the end there will be division as well. We will either be ushered into the kingdom of heaven or cast into the lake of fire. It may seem like a very unkind  thing for God to do but if you read His Word you will understand that knowing Him and obeying Him brings better results. 

So why did Jesus say He did not come to bring peace but division? Because some would find it hard to believe there is only one way, and that He was it. So clearly seen with all the denominations and beliefs to choose from.  Those who understand and believe this and adhere to His truth will find peace. The division: peace and turmoil; light and dark; good and evil. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, remember, but life in and through Christ changes that. 

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Which Way?

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.

Wow. this is as I have said before...bear with me as I share my thoughts on ways, paths, roads, freeways and expressways! And since this has been sitting in my iPad Notes for several days, I can add a few choice nuggets from my Pastor's sermon yesterday. And then something from a message I listened to later in the day regarding journeying with Christ. I am amazed.

This comes from our Bible Study Fellowship Notes, Lesson 7 of Revelation. In the beginning of time Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden and sin entered the world. Eventually they had two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain, you will recall, killed Abel...more sin! This was in the notes: Humanity was divided into two distinct camps along with the two sons of Adam and Eve: those who followed God and those who pursued their own way. To this day the majority of people reject God completely or believe they can satisfy God by their own efforts and agenda.

Until we know Jesus, we all wander that wide road to destruction, like an expressway, believing we can, as the lesson states, satisfy God by our own efforts. We can think we are basically good people, who are content to just know Jesus in our minds, not in our hearts, believing our good works here on earth will provide eternal life without Christ, without church, without studying His Word, without fellowship with other believers. That, my friends, is that wide road. We want it our way and we want it now.

Jesus says He is the Way and He is a narrow way. Too narrow, as some point out. The word way is defined as a journey. I equate a journey as a long time of travel, not get-to-your-destination-quick. We can wander the narrow backroad with Jesus or zoom right along on the wide expressways with all the others bent on getting to where they need to be quickly without taking the time to take anything in. With Jesus on the narrow road we learn a lot because it is slow going, an ever-learning way. Nothing zooms right by.

Don't we know that Christianity is becoming a contentious point these days? There may be some who would rather not go that route...too dangerous. Steer clear of the controversy. And yet in the end being secure in Christ is the safest place to be. 

Y-e-a-r-s ago I used to do a lot of bicycling. It took time to build up strength and distance. But after awhile I was ready to bike with the big kids! Hour trips turned into two, which turned into half day, then all day, then weekend days back to back and eventually a week, two, to three and even (one) seven-week long trips. What I remember most was how slowly the scenery went by on a bicycle. Sometimes it seemed like forever but other times those mountains we could see in the distance for hours, not minutes, eventually loomed ahead or alongside us. We definitely experienced our trip. We were right in the middle of it all.

Following Christ is like that. He is along side us. As we walk with Him we are in the midst of life in Christ. He shows us new things and it never grows tiring. Life doesn't just zip right by and we never think we've arrived. Each day is new. As Pastor Terry Fischer said yesterday in his sermon, Walking With God: Walking with God means we are going someplace with the Lord; jogging with God is not so enjoyable...how often do you see a smiling jogger?! I'm sure you get the point!

A wide road offers nothing that lasts long enough. Paths are about taking everything in. A walk with the Lord is like a walk in nature...Pastor added: There is simplicity in it, it's peaceful and our minds, being focused on God, can be stimulated. 

Jesus, the narrow Way. Take Him in. Take in His words. Take in His promises. Learn of Him. Know what future you can have with Him. The wide road offers no opportunity to take Him in. Life will just fly on by with not many rewards on that wide road to get to that next destination fast. Slow down, take in the life He offers on His narrow road.

Look at Moses as He led Israel through the desert. God kept them secure under His pillar of cloud or fire. They moved when He directed in the perfect direction He wanted for them. It may have taken 40 years for all their grumbling, but He still provided for them along the way. Had they gone off in their own direction, He would not have been there. The narrow way or the wide road? 

The BSF Lesson 7 notes go on to say: Since the beginning of time, God's people are the people of faith, whom God chose, redeemed and lovingly preserves for eternity. We must maintain a closeness with the Lord for this to happen in our lives. Walk with the Way on the narrow path. Let Him show how He provides. Let our faith be strengthened. The wide road offers none of this. Whatever we seek on the wide road slips through our fingers leaving us still unsatisfied, longing for more. 

I remember biking alongside, through and over parts of the Alps. It took days. The scenery never got tired. Every bend in the road offered another breathtaking sight. Jesus does this too. Having faith in Him is amazing. He doesn't fail. I'd rather be on the path with Him, maybe stumble a time or two just to have Him lift me back up, than crash on the wide road. 

One more quote from Lesson 7: The letters to the seven churches in Revelation are love letters. They are designed to encourage, build up and take people off the wrong path and get them onto the right path. The seven letters to the seven churches listed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 each contained a word of warning or praise. The love came in the way of 
Jesus showing them their ways and how they could improve upon some of them through repentance and turning back to Him. The whole Bible is our great love letter from Jesus showing us how we are basically not good people but people who have strayed and how He wishes for us to return to Him. 

He uses ordinary people, like the twelve ordinary men of His day, to draw people to Him, to share the truth of His Word, to steer them onto the right path, the narrow road. Which road do you think you are on? The highway referred to next are roads that Jesus puts us on. They are His high ways. His ways are higher. He lifts us up and plants us on a higher, better way. 

A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.

(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭35:8‬)

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

‭‭(Psalms ‭16:11‬)

A Way Was Made

Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬  - Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God...

God has made a way for all people to be in fellowship with Him. It is our choice to make. If we do choose Christ we are taught what truth is. There's another choice...do we believe it or not. If we do not, we do not follow Him. 

I will say what the truth of God's Word states when confronted. I will not back down. I will not argue. But I will hold to what God says is true. Not what might seem out of spite for anyone but out of love for the Lord and His truth. 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. (‭1John‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬) I have done my part. It is up to the hearer to have ears to hear and a heart to receive.

I know not everyone, in fact few, will want to hear if His truth goes against their thinking or lifestyle. But if God says...then I believe. Some might want to think God would not do this or that if He is a loving God. But...what does He say about how much He loves...He's willing to discipline. ...My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭5-6‬)

He allowed His Son to die for all of us. If God is so loving how could He have done that? He did it because He loves so much He wants none to perish. He was willing to give One life for the lives of many. Do we choose that life in Christ and all that comes with it? That's where the choice is. If we do we must believe what His Word says.

If I tell the truth as per God I might be confronted with, "Oh, you're just being judgmental."  If I have stated God's truth, I am not. God ultimately is. Ouch. That's despising God. THAT is another hard truth. He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. (‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬)

We are put into all sorts of life situations. We are to learn from them. Christ made a way for us that we would learn what is right, just and true. If we reject His teachings we reject Him. When we learn the truth we must live it out. Perfectly all the time? No. I still struggle with some things myself, those little things like patience...ugh!

God never changes. What He was in the beginning, He is today and will be tomorrow.  He will not change His stance on what He has commanded. If you believe what He says you will stand on that truth and not waver...at any price. You could lose friends or family. But you cannot back down. You choose them or you choose the Lord.  That might be the thing that makes you choose not to follow or seek Him. If He is more important than anyone else, this will not hold you back. It's the end result we must strive for...eternal life...no matter the cost. I'm thankful He made a way. 

James 1:12,14-15 - Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 

My Choice

John‬ ‭15‬:‭17-19 - These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

We are told that we will be blessed if we: have a poor spirit, are mournful, meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted for righteousness' sake. The kingdom of heaven, God's comfort, inheriting the earth, being filled with God's righteousness, receiving His mercy, seeing Him, and being called sons of God will all be ours in our steadfastness in Him. (Matthew 5:3-10)

I choose to remain steadfast in Him whatever may occur. We are not to let the cares of the world overcome us. We are to keep our focus on heavenly things and remain faithful to Jis a Word. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (‭I Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭11-12)

We may be hated for our beliefs. But as He stated above, Jesus was too. It may sound arrogant to say we are not of the world. Anyone can have this, however, if they choose Jesus.

In all things we must follow the Lord. Nothing can come before Him, not family or friends. We might just lose them in our commitment to what is right. I remember when I asked God after He directed me to do something and I asked how I could leave all the friends I had made... He reminded me: ... “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭48-50‬)  My true brothers and sisters are those who also follow Him. 

This is where I stand. It could be a very difficult road. I know I'm still in need of some work, some strength and purification. But I look to the end. I find it hard to look back to what I used to believe. I stand on the Word of God and it's truth. I stand with the God of my salvation. It's all about which path to take. Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life. 

Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Is That Right?

1Chronicles‬ ‭13‬:‭2-4‬ - And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.” Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

I listened to an old sermon by  evangelical writer and teacher, DeVern Fromke, a site of whose sermons someone from our church posted on Facebook. It was called Discerning God's Ways. Mind you, this was preached in 1981. It so spoke to today's Church and, of course, us.

I knew nothing about DeVern Fromke so I did a search and came across this which was not connected to the sermon I listened to, yet suggested the gist of the sermon: Fromke seeks to restore balance and bring the church back to viewing everything from God's perspective--not ours. Spiritual growth and maturity in Christ is often hindered by wrong teaching and emphasis in today's ministry. This author desires to use his influence to help correct misunderstanding and wrong-centered teaching, in order that the child of God may grow and mature in the way God intended.

So in the scripture David sees a need...that the Ark be back in their land so they can worship in God as they once had. The Ark was where the presence of God resided. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel. (‭Exodus‬ ‭25‬:‭21-22‬)

The Ark had been taken by the Philistines and eventually returned to their country when they believed it was bringing curses instead of blessings (because improper use). (1Chronicles14-16)

David calls for the Ark to be brought back from Kirjath Jearim in the northern part of Israel to Jerusalem. David believed that was its rightful place and all agreed. But as Fromke points out, just because all are in agreement doesn't make it right.

Today we have majorities and minorities in society. Often the majorities rule...but that doesn't necessarily make it right. We can see that in government, jury duty, the workplace, cultures and religions. As he also pointed out, sometimes a unanimous vote is secured just to be done with a thing!

So when a church or denomination sees a need, develops a plan, a vision for something and a decision comes about, it may not always be God's will. It seems good. And often if a vote IS taken, it may not be unanimous but a majority...and the majority rules. Not even unanimous...

David was right in believing it was good to have the Ark in its rightful place but it still didn't mean it was God's will...yet. God has His own time schedule. At the same time without this account we have no good lesson to learn and maybe it was God's plan! 

At any rate, we need to seek God first. We look to Him for the answers, not all the people, not others. Him alone. He will bring confirmation of the thing we desire to do. How often 
will a church step out to do because they believe they have heard from God? Like building a church...the stance that if we build it, they will come. They will stand in faith believing it will be in God's will. I've seen this turn into failure. It was not a confirmation of word received from God. It was man's will with the hope He will step in.

Later in chapter 14 we see that the Ark was being carried on a cart by cattle. It hit a rough spot and it looked as though the Ark would fall. A man called Uzza reached out his hand to settle it and was killed instantly by God because no one was allowed to touch the Ark. God's anger was placed upon Uzza. God has certain ways of doing things and while David's heart for this Ark was in the right place, by cart with cattle was wrong method...and he should have known this. Exodus 25:10-15 goes into detail. As Fromke states, the equipment was wrong! And how often do we use the wrong equipment: say or do the wrong things to achieve what we believe is right? God just might intervene and kill the plan.

We cannot rush God. We cannot step in and do for Him. We must wait for Him. We must seek Him until He gives us an answer. Sometimes we can do nothing. We wait for an answer or confirmation. When it's done God's way it is successful. Don't we like success?

In the end, said Fromke, this Old Testament story points to Jesus...the right Way. Through the right Way who is Jesus we receive salvation, learn truth and gain proper wisdom. Seek Him, seek His ways and while the road won't always be smooth, all will be well in the end. 

Psalm 25:12-13 - Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and 
He will show them His covenant. 

Who Is This Man?

John 14:6 - I am the way, the truth, and the life.

Most people have heard of Jesus. The name is familiar. He is the Son of God. Some say they know Him. Some say they know of Him. Who really is this Man who so many people have heard of and who has made a name for Himself? Whose name is still uttered 2,000 years later.

Let Him tell you for Himself.

John 8:58 - Before Abraham was, I am

John 8:12,9:5 - I am the light of the world

John 10:9 - I am the door

John 6:35,48 - I am the bread of life

John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd

John 15:1 - I am the true vine 

John 11:25 - I am the resurrection and the life

Before Abraham was, I am...

Before the beginning of time, He was. He was in the beginning when this earth was created, who did the creating, when we were created...to have fellowship with Him. It was by His words... He was and still is the Word of God. John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. His words are spoken through His Word that all men might know Him and ultimately seek Him. Hallelujah!

I am the light of the world...

Just as He created light and dark to separate day from night or good from evil, He became the light that would allow mankind to see Him and take them from the darkness and into His marvelous light. But this is a choice. Some love the darkness and have no place for the light.

I am the door...

You get to the Father and Heaven through Him. He is the only access. No man on earth, no church, no denomination, but one Man. A man, church or denomination can point people to Him, but again it is the individual's responsibility to go through that door. I've said this before: There is a popular photo of Jesus knocking at a door. The funny thing about this picture is there is no doorknob on the outside where Jesus stands. He does not enter unless we open that door and let Him in.

I am the bread of life...

It is His Word searched, studied and meditated on that gives us our daily bread. If we do not choose to eat of that bread, we are not getting our daily life-giving manna. This is the true bread of life...the bread that truly sustains.

I am the good shepherd...

This Shepherd stands watch over those sheep who allow themselves to be guided by their Shepherd. If one wanders He is willing to leave the others to be sure that one is returned to the fold. He protects from predators of the world. He was willing to give His life for His sheep who follow Him.

I am the true vine...

When we come to Christ He is our lifeline. We draw sustenance from Him. We to abide in Him that we would produce the fruit which He gives. Without Him we can do nothing. We can be His disciples, sharing Him, His words of truth. We receive all we have from Him. 

I am the resurrection and the life...

From out of our spiritual darkness and into His light we are resurrected from our old selves, our sin, 
into the life that is in Christ, no longer bound to sin but now walking and living, resurrected, in the righteousness of Christ. 

I am the way, the truth, and the life...

The only way, the only truth, the only life. Period. Our ways don't cut it, truths not lined up with His won't work and our lives without Him won't do. Period.

This Man is here for all. That door can be opened, the light revealed, that bread eaten,   and the Shepherd available for protection, life received. Walk along His way, believe His truths and receive the best life you can imagine. The only life...

John 3:18 - He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.