What Are You Betting Your Life On?

Everyone is betting their life on something!

What are you betting your life on?

I am betting my life on the fact that Jesus is who he said he is!

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - Jesus, John 14:6

I am the way.

Jesus said this in a conversation with the disciples at the last supper. He had just told the disciples that he must go away. And that they knew the way to where he was going. He was speaking about his arrest later that night and his subsequent trial, torture, crucifixion, and death. And his resurrection and ascension back to heaven and to the right hand of the Father.

But the disciples didn’t understand what he meant. So, Thomas, speaking perhaps for all of the disciples, says to Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going so how can we know the way? I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” -John 8:6-7

Jesus doesn’t say “I know the way” or “I will show you the way” or “I will point you to the way.” No, he says, “I am the way.” Therefore, the way is a person. Jesus doesn’t say we will know every twist and turn in life. Or that we can discern a definite route through life predicting all the good times and bad. He says “I am the way.” In other words, follow me and I will show you the way, and I will guide you every step of the way. We must trust him and follow him.

Recently, my wife, Janeese, and I lead 48 people on a pilgrimage and tour to the Holy Land. We had an excellent Israeli guide named Rafi. Every day, Rafi led our group. When we were in Jerusalem, we visited the “Old City” in the heart of ancient Jerusalem. It is a maze of winding small streets and alleys. You could easily get lost if you didn’t follow our guide Rafi. Fortunately, Rafi used an earphone system called the Whisper. Each person on the tour had an earpiece they could wear in one ear each day and hear Rafi speak as he guided us. So, we could follow Rafi himself through the Old City, and we could also hear his voice as he led us. Rafi became the way for us in those crowded markets, alleyways and streets.

Jesus can be the way for us if we will follow him and listen to his voice.

I am the truth.

Jesus doesn’t say truth is a religion, a ritual or a list of rules or regulations. He said, “I am the truth.”

Jesus separates himself from all the other founders of all the other religions in the world when he says this. Other religious leaders claim …. “I have the truth.” Or “I will point you to the truth.” Or “I am teaching you the truth.” Or “I am a prophet of the truth.”

But Jesus claims to be the truth!

Some people say, “Jesus was a great teacher but nothing more.” But a great teacher would not claim to be God if it were not so. A great teacher would not claim to be the way, the truth, and the life if it were not so. A great teacher would not claim to be the only way to the Father if it were not so.

Our culture and the entire world are in a battle for the truth. Many sides claim to have the truth. But Jesus says I am the truth. He calls us to the truth… to himself. He calls us to believe the truth. To do the truth. To stand for the truth. To spread the truth. To speak the truth.

I am betting my life on the fact that Jesus is the truth. In the midst of a very confused culture where truth is relative and misunderstood, it is refreshing and life giving to know that there is unchanging truth and that that truth is a person, Jesus Christ!

You can trust Jesus because he is the truth. And I am betting my life on that fact.

Jesus also said, “the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) There is freedom in Christ when we follow the truth!

I am the life.

“I am the way, the truth and the life.” - Jesus, John 14:6 “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come so that you might have life and to live it abundantly.” - Jesus, John 10:10

Jesus is the life because he came to give us abundant life in this world and eternal life in the next.

Did you know that Jesus wants us to live a full and satisfying life in this world? He created us and loves us and wants us to experience all the good things that he has for us. Jesus offers us forgiveness, restoration, freedom, grace, love, joy, and peace in this life. Even in the midst of sorrows and let downs, hurts, and pains, Jesus wants to offer us a rich life. An abundant life. A restored life.

In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul tells us we can be new creatures in Christ. We can have a new life in Jesus.

In Revelations 21:1, Jesus says” Behold, I make all things new.” Through Christ we can experience new life.

Jesus also offers us eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” - Jesus, John 3:16

Yes, through Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father, we can inherit eternal life. Through Jesus we can enter into a relationship with God the Father, and we can experience life eternal in the very presence of the Father our creator! 2.3 billion people who call themselves Christ followers are betting their lives on that!

What are you betting your life on?

This Easter why not bet your life on the fact that Jesus is who he says he is?

Blessings,

Dr Lester Spencer

Lead Pastor

Saint James Church