Relationship Over Righteousness

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:1-6

Yesterday, we began talking about how there are three conclusions we can draw from the fact that Jesus is the only way to heaven. The first conclusion is that religious belief is not enough. If you missed yesterday’s devotion where we dove into that conclusion further, I urge you to go back and read it.

For now, let’s discuss the other two conclusions.

First, we must see that righteous behavior is not the way to heaven. When Jesus said, “I am the highway to God,” He was trying to get us to understand that the highway to God is a freeway, and I mean that literally. It is not a toll road that you have to pay to get on it. It is a freeway that has already been built and paid for, and you can get on it anytime you want to. You just have to take the road called “Jesus.” This is what differentiates Jesus from every other religion in the world because every other religion in the world is ultimately based on some system of righteous behavior.

Second, we must see that a relational bond is the only way to heaven. This is what makes Jesus different from every other spiritual figure who ever lived. Jesus didn’t say “Come to me and I’ll show you the way.” He said, “I am the way.” He didn’t say, “Come to me and I’ll tell you the truth.” He said, “I am the truth.” He didn’t say, “Come to me and I’ll give you life.” He said, “I am the life.” If you want to go to heaven, the only way to do that is by having a relationship with Jesus. There is no other option.

Do you have a relationship with Jesus? Or have you been banking on your own righteous behavior to get to heaven? If the latter is true for you, I pray that today will be the day you step into a relationship with Jesus and trust that He is the only way to spend eternity in heaven.

Dear Jesus, thank you for making a way for me to spend eternity in heaven with you. Forgive me for not relying on you and relying too much on my own works. I acknowledge that you are the way, the truth, and the life, and nothing I can do in my own power would ever be good enough to get me into heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.