On the Road with Jesus

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

Going on a road trip can be a lot of fun.

Route 66 is the first highway that let people travel back and forth from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. It was 2,400 miles long. There were many interesting places to see on the way.

If you want to go on a trip, the first thing you need to decide is where you want to go.

There are many places that would sure be fun to visit. There is one place, though, that is more special than any other place. It’s not a place to which you can drive, fly or take a train. In fact, it’s not even a place we can see here on earth now.

It is Heaven! Heaven is a real place. It is a place God created. (Genesis 1:1; 14:19) It is special because it is where God the Father is (Matthew 6:9); and a place that Jesus is busy preparing for those who want to go there (John 14:2). As we journey through this life, I think we might like to know how to get to Heaven.

The Bible tells us there are two roads. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

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In these verses, the broad road is talking about doing things our own way and living away from God. It says this road “leads to destruction.” This doesn’t sound like a good road to travel on does it? The narrow road, though, “leads to life”. This is talking about life with God which leads to Heaven. Now that sounds like the road I want to travel on. How about you?

Now we need to know how to get on the right road, the road that leads to Heaven. Some people think you can get to Heaven in many different ways; if you are nice, do good things, go to church, or give money to the poor. But John 14:6 tells us the right way to get on the narrow road to Heaven. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus was telling us that He is the only way to God.

Let’s look some more at what the Bible says about how we can get on the road with Jesus.

Paul, the author of the book of Romans gave us verses that create a step-by-step path to get us on the road with Jesus. These scriptures are often called “The Romans Road”. This name was chosen for two reasons. The first reason is that the verses all come from the book of Romans. The second reason is it is a clever way of using familiar words in a new way. Back in Bible times, the Romans were known for the straight, paved roads that led back to Rome. “The Romans Road” won’t lead us to Rome, Italy, but it will help us walk the straight path to Jesus Christ. Calling it “The Romans Road” is just an easier way to remember these verses.

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As we begin our journey toward Heaven, right away we come to a road block. That road block is sin. Romans 3:23 tells us “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This verse means that there isn’t anyone who has ever lived, with the exception of Jesus, who is without sin. Sin is doing, saying or thinking things that don’t please God. Every time we sin we get further and further away from what God is like. Our sin makes us fall short of God’s glory.

Sin is a very big roadblock. You see, God is too holy to allow sinners into His presence. The first part of Romans 6:23a says that “The wages of sin is death”. Wages are what we get paid for the work we do. This verse means that our payment for the work of sin in our lives is death. This is not just the death of our physical body, but a spiritual death which is separation from God.

So far, this journey seems hard, like we’re never going to get there. But don’t get discouraged. Let’s look at the second part of Romans 6:23b. This part of the verse says “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The gift of eternal life in Heaven is a free gift to us. We don’t have to earn it; we get a free pass past the road block of sin.

This gift is free to us, but it cost someone else to give it to us. In Romans 5:8 we read that “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Because the payment for sin is death, someone had to die for our sins. Jesus came to earth and lived a perfectly sinless life. Even though we were still sinning, He willingly died on the cross for our sins even though He never did anything wrong. But because He was the Son of God, He was raised from the dead three days later and then He went to Heaven to make it ready for us. He paid our debt so we could get past the road block that sin caused. Now we are starting to see how Jesus is the way to get on the road to Heaven.

Romans 10:9 tells us exactly how we can get on this road. It says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Salvation is a gift, but we have to take it. If we want to get on the road with Jesus we have to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead.

Romans 10:13 says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Does this verse say that only God’s favorite people will be saved? No! Will only those who lead a good life be saved? No! Will only those who go to church be saved? No! Will only those who give to the poor be saved? No! Who does this verse say will be saved? Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord! God doesn’t want anyone to be left to travel on the broad road, that leads away from Him.

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So here is an easy way to remember how to get on the road with Jesus. It’s as easy as A-B-C.

A is for Accept the gift that Jesus bought for you.
B is for Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.
C is for Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

So how about you? Do you want to get on the road with Jesus? The narrow road that leads to Heaven? Then pray this prayer. . .

 Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. Jesus died to save sinners. Jesus died to save me. Come into my heart. Give me a new life. I will follow you all the days of my life. Amen.