Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:5-6)
“There are many ways to the roof of a house. There are many different paths up a mountain. In the same way, all religious or spiritual opinions are equally valid.” This is what your friends think and this is what society thinks. Thomas’ question in verse 5 is brilliant. This one question exposes the illogical thinking behind the ‘all paths up the mountain equally valid’ theory. Thomas says, ‘If we don’t know the destination, how can we know the way?’ Pure gold. Yes, there are lots of paths up a mountain. Yes, there are lots of ways to the roof of a house. But that’s only because you know the destination. You want to get to the top of the mountain or to the roof of the house. If you didn’t know where you want to end up, you will have no idea about either the path or the way. In life it is vital to know your destination. Where are you heading? Where do you want to end up? Where will this path take me? These are questions we should ask all our beliefs and all our actions. When it comes to world religions, the destinations are mutually exclusive. Islam says the destination is a hareem where you will be served wine by 72 virgins with large breasts. Hinduism says you will keep dying and coming back in an eternal cycle of progression that possibly might land you up at an impersonal spirit called Brahma. Buddhism says there is no ‘where’. You will lose yourself, all consciousness and be caught up in the great big nothingness. Compare these destinations to what Jesus offers. Jesus says the destination is a Person: His Father. Rather than a harsh Judge, or a misogynist brothel-keeper, or a Big Impersonal Nothing, or some Cosmic Stranger, Jesus says the destination is a Father. A kind, benevolent, caring Father. A Father who loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you so that you can come home to Him. Because that is the destination, we can now know the way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” He is the way because He is the only One who died so that our sins could be forgiven and give us access to the Father. He is the Truth because love is true and not just an opinion. He is the life because to be with your Father who loves you is life. There is no other way. PRAY and ask God to make you more grateful that as a Christian you can answer Thomas. You do know where Jesus has gone and you do know the way. Best of all, Jesus will get you there too.