Column by Sumter Pastor Joey Durham: Jesus gives all the truth needed to reach Heaven
I hope you're having a great day, and thank you so much for spending a little time today with Gleanings from the Open Bible Baptist Church. I want to bring to your heart this thought, "A Man Who Wanted to Go to Heaven." In John 14:1-6, we read these words, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (KJV)
Notice how Thomas asked the Lord, "and how can we know the way?" This tells me that Thomas was a man who wanted to make sure he knew the way to Heaven.
There are many differing opinions as to what Heaven is and how to get there. Some feel that Heaven is a state of mind. There are those who think that Heaven is here on this earth. There are people who think that Heaven is just another dimension that can be obtained by a small group of "enlightened" people. All of these opinions are incorrect according to the Word of God. Heaven is a place, a real place, and only those who are prepared to go there will be able to enter that celestial place called Heaven. Thomas was certainly intrigued by the statements made from the lips of the Son of God. Jesus Christ told His disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you." Space will not allow me to examine all that this statement is saying, but one thing is for certain, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was not talking about a state of mind, or another dimension or any place here on this Earth. He is referring to "Heaven!"
Thomas asked, "How can we know the way" to Heaven? The Lord Jesus declared in no uncertain terms, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." All of Heaven is wrapped up in one person, and His name is Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus has provided the way to Heaven only in Himself. Jesus Christ has provided all of the truth needed to arrive safely on Heaven's bright shore. Jesus Christ is the only person that God has given to secure eternal life for those who will believe in His precious name. Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation that God has provided to take a man, woman, boy or girl to the glories of an eternal Heaven when they depart this life. Do you know Jesus Christ? He has laid down the mandate in His Word because Heaven belongs to Him and to those who have trusted Him as their own personal Lord and Savior.
Dr. Joey Durham is pastor at Open Bible Baptist Church at 180 Old Manning Road in Sumter. You can contact Pastor Durham at durham.joey@yahoo.com or call the church office at (803) 481-9315.