Do you like to hike? I enjoy hiking Kennesaw Mountain when I get the chance. There are lots of trails all along the mountain. You and I could both hike up the mountain and back and never see one another unless we were on the exact same trail.
In our world today, people of other faiths would like for us to believe that all roads lead to God and as long as we’re on a path to God, we’ll reach Him. Matthew 7:14 says “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” So many people are being misled by the “all roads lead to God” mentality. Jesus did not mince words in John 14:6 when He said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” While there are many pathways to religion, there is only One pathway to God and that’s Jesus. It isn’t exclusive, as some people would like to convince you. The Lord has opened Himself up to anyone and everyone who would seek Him. His heart is that none should perish [John 3:16]. The Christian faith is inclusive, but specific [John 14:6]. All are invited to be a part of it, but there is one way and one way only to obtain it.
David Platt talks of how he was on a mountaintop talking with a Buddhist and a Muslim about their beliefs. One of the men said they were all alike in their pursuits, but just reached the goal differently. David asked them if they believed God was at the top of the mountain and they all took different paths to reach Him. Yes, they said in agreement. But David quickly pointed out the major difference. In every religion in the world except Christianity, mankind is trying to climb the mountain (so to speak) to reach God, but in Christianity, God came down the mountain to reach man [John 1:14].
In order for us to encounter the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to be on the right path, the narrow path, searching for Him. When we search for Him with our whole heart, we will find Him [Jeremiah 29:13]. The good news is the search for Jesus doesn’t require a huge hike up a mountain. All we have to do is call upon His name and He is there. Jeremiah 33:3 says “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
What path are you hiking today? Is it the narrow one that leads to the Lord? Even though it is a narrow path, others can follow you to Him. We may have to go single file, but we can still have others following us to Him. Reach out today and invite someone to join you in your journey to Jesus. There are so many lost, without hope, without direction, without a clue. You hold the answer, the gift of eternal life. It’s time to share what you have with others and ask them to join you for a hike.