Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth,
and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Someone responded,
“I have been taught that sentence from Holy Scriptures ever since my childhood,
and I believe it. I have often quoted you on this very point when arguing that
Liberals, Muslims, Jews and others will go straight to Hell!”
Jesus spoke slowly, as if he had attempted to explain this idea of God’s grace to many people many times, but they refused to listen. Jesus said, once again, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
“I know, I know. That’s what I said. The Feminists and the Hindus and the Buddhists are all going to Hell.”
“That’s not what I said,” Jesus cautioned.
“Oh, yes you did,” the man corrected Jesus. “Nobody goes to heaven unless they become a Christian.”
“Let me repeat myself,” said Jesus, “and maybe you would honor me by actually listening, and not repeating over and over again words I never said.”
“I know what you said. I have been taught it since birth. It is a word of judgment against people who are not believers. Unless someone becomes a born-again Christian, just like me, then they cannot ever get into heaven. No chance. Period.” The man smiled proudly at his perfect summary of what he believed to be true.
Jesus was very patient with the man: “You have stated accurately the beliefs of many Christians, but what they say should not be confused with what I said.”
“Well, I know what you said. You said that people are going to Hell if they...”
Jesus interrupted the man, and repeated himself, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
“I am pretty clear about what I believe...” the man began, “and only True Believers like me will get into Heaven.”
“I decide,” said Jesus, firmly, “who might have access to the Father.” Then, once again, he added, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
“Yeah, but...”
Then, Jesus turned away, sorrowful, pained by the man’s hardness of heart.
This article originally published in The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of South Carolina's newsletter, Fellowship: July-August 2006. Used with permission.
Marion Aldridge is the Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of South Carolina, husband of Sally, father of two daughters and one grandson. He graduated from Clemson University, has pastored three churches and, early in his ministry, worked for Young Life, where he was introduced to Faith at Work.