I am absolutely stunned, shocked, stupefied, mortified, astounded and the list goes on. What about? The fact that well-known preachers of the Gospel (at least I thought it was the Gospel they preached) no longer believe or profess the absolute truth of the message.
Before I continue on my startled rant, let’s first examine the word “absolute.” The word means, “Not to be doubted or questioned.” In the area of philosophy it means, “Something regarded as the ultimate basis of all thought and being; something regarded as independent of and unrelated to anything else.”
We use it in phrases such as, “absolutely free” or “absolutely breath-taking”, “absolutely no regrets”, “absolutely fabulous” and the list goes on. The essence that one is trying to convey is that this is the ultimate; the pinnacle of truth; not to be questioned. It is this idea that brings me back to the reason I’m “absolutely” bewildered.
In recent days, I’ve listened and watched some name-dropper type TV ministers giving answers to a question that should shock every bible-believing Christian. Each one was asked if they believed Christ was the only way to heaven. Each one responded by saying (some used words that were couched) in essence “no.”
One responded that he wasn’t sure and wasn’t going to judge. Another stated that he didn’t really want to dip into that discussion but believed that God may have others in other faiths and would leave that up to Him. Another responded by saying, “…they may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their heart they need something that they don’t have and they turn to the only light that they have and I think that they are saved and they are going to be with us in heaven.”
Now some may be thinking, “What’s wrong with that?” What’s wrong is that belief calls Jesus Christ a liar. Why? Because in John 14:6, Jesus said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
On the day of Pentecost, after preaching to thousands the people cried out and asked what they needed to do to be saved. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
Now if you can get to God and heaven by other faith systems, then Jesus Christ is not the way; there is no need to preach repentance in Jesus’ name; there is no need to be discipled in the scriptures; there is no need to send missionaries to the world; there is no need to give money to “kingdom” purposes and there is no need to pray for our family and friends.
I’m sorry but I choose to believe that Jesus is as He stated—the only way; that the Bible means what it says; that the world needs a Savior; that we need to pray and give and tell the truth of God’s Word without worrying whether or not it is politically correct. Why? Because one day we will each stand before an ‘absolutely’ holy and pure God and there is only one way to receive His invitation to eternal life—the pure sacrifice of the "absolutely" perfect Lamb of God! And one day soon, a blast from heaven will sound and the whole world will “see the Son of Man coming in his father’s glory…” Matthew 16:27.
That day is getting closer and closer—on that I’m “absolutely” sure!
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