Everybody is going to heaven, right? Not so fast!

Walking in the Truth

Today's scripture

[Jesus said to Nicodemus], "For God so loved the world that He gave His one & only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one & only Son." John 3:16-18.

Today's devotional thoughts

Before we start to consider Walking in the Truth, we better have a solid trip on what, exactly, is The Truth. 

John 3:16 is considered one of the most beloved passages from the Bible. Some of you may know it by heart. Some may remember it as one of the first passages you memorized. 

For some first time readers, I encourage you to just let the words soak in.

It's all about God's grace--His undeserved love for us. He loves us so much that He sent His one & only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not die forever but live forever. 

The verses that follow are equally important, because a rampant false teaching has been around forever & is only getting more widespread & harder to contend against. These verses emphasize that it is ONLY through Jesus Christ & Him alone that we have forgiveness & life.

You don't want to believe that, and neither do I. It is tempting & easier to believe that it doesn't matter what God you follow or what you believe as long a you are sincere or--and maybe this is the worse false doctrine of all--God is surely going to save anyone who leads or tries to lead a pretty good life. Because nobody's perfect. Right? Right?!

That "truth," whether you & I like it or not, whether the world likes it or not, is NOT God's Truth as found in the Truth of Scripture. Just as Jesus shared with Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling Council [otherwise known as the Sanhedrin], who came to Jesus under the cloak of night for fear he would be seen by Jesus' enemies, He shares with us today by His disciple, eyewitness & New Testament evangelist, John. 

Jesus is the Savior--the Christ [anointed one]--and He alone is the one Way that leads to forgiveness & salvation--Life with God forever, even after death. And that's the Truth!

Today's Prayer Thought

Ask Jesus to "open the Scriptures" to you & especially others, who are desperately looking for the Truth.