DO YOU REALLYKNOW THE WAY TO GO?

My fervent hope is that you have come to realise that if you have not repented; that is, turned from following the way that seems right to you, and started to walk in obedience to God, which is the only way to eternal life; you are lost. Your own way, no matter how good, does not lead to eternal life. (Pro.14:12) Your life, no matter how good it is, does not lead there either. (Is.64:6) It is only faith in God's Word, Jesus Christ;(Jh.1:1 & Acts 16:31), complete acceptance of his truth; and a total trust in what God says he has done for us in Jesus, that can, and will save us. (Eph.2:8-9)

For good works to have value, they must follow after salvation. (Eph.2:10) But I hope you have already turned from your own way to Jesus Christ, who is the only way to God.(Jh.l4:6)"There is salvation in no one else as there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12)

If you have not turned to Jesus, either for the first time, or in repentance from sin, I want to share with you what he's saying to you right now. He’s saying, "I'm standing at the door of your life knocking, if you hear my voice and open the door to me, I will come in to you, and eat with you, and you with me." (Rev. 3:20)

I urge you to open the door of your heart and life to him because, "Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation," (2Cor.6:2) tomorrow may never come for you or me. Jesus is standing at the door of your life as the Good Shepherd, calling his sheep by name, (Jh.lO:3) It's very important for you to understand that the door to your life is like a fire escape door, it only has a handle on the inside. For Jesus to come into your life, as he wants to, you must open the door. He will not open it himself because of your free will. It’s your choice, and Jesus died to give that choice to you.

The Word of God says that "a man cannot have greater love than that he would lay down his life for his friends," but Christ died for us while we were still his enemies. (Rom. 5:10) He did this so that "we might have life and have it abundantly." (Jh.lO:10) He said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (Jh.l0:27) We’ve come back to willing obedience again!

If you have not already done so, I urge you to turn in that obedience to Jesus Christ and give your life to him, because he gave his life for you. He "died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him, who for their sake died and was raised," (2Cor.5:15), and "if we have died with him, we shall also live with him." (2nd.Tim.2:11)

Don't be deceived; remember there is no other way of salvation but through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (Jh.3:16) Again, "being made perfect, he, Jesus, became the source of eternal life to all who obey him." (Heb.5:9) Obedience again!

Friend, don't be deceived into thinking you can save yourself, or somehow get yourself right with God. Don't think that you can merit or buy eternal life in any way, shape or form. Don't think that you're safe if you follow a prescribed ritual, because you’re not.

For more than thirty years I followed such a way, and I can honestly say I was more obedient to it than most others of my years. I went far beyond the compulsory ritual. I was searching for something I could not define at the time, but which I now know to have been peace. Peace with God, and with myself. I concentrated all my energies into doing everything I possibly could to be obedient to my church leaders. I found nothing real or lasting.

As I've been writing this I've been looking at a flower pot and notice how the plant in it keeps reaching up to the light. It reaches up until it becomes too weak, and then falls to one side. The tip then starts to reach up to the light again, but after a time gets top heavy, falls over, and once more starts to reach up.

The plant is just like I was, trying to reach up to the light, which is Jesus. (Jh.8:12) I could use the props of ritual and tradition which could lift me up higher than I could go myself, or so it seemed at the time, and therefore they looked good to me. But when I reached the top of the prop, I too, just like the plant in the pot, became top heavy as it were, and fell right down again. I could put in as many props as I wished, but still could not reach the SON.

Finally the Lord took pity on me, and after gradually pulling away all the props, he lovingly, by his Spirit, pruned me till I no longer needed them, because now Christ dwells in my heart and life by faith, so I don't have to strive to reach up all the time. Now "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me." (Phil.4:13) I can rest in him and bear 'good fruit’ for God.

If you’re willing to take the time, I urge you to read the Gospel of John, and if you need a bible or have anything you would like to share, or ask, please feel free to contact us at:

CHRISTIAN TRACT OUTREACH

C/o Danny & Terri Maher, PO Box 9059,

WynnumPlaza, Qld. 4178, Australia,

Ph. 07 3396 1630

Email:

1