Finding His Love Devotion #11 – The Road to Love

Scripture:  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6

Examination: Jesus is preparing His disciples for the time when He will no longer be with them. In their distress, He reminds them of who He is and the reason He will be leaving them. He goes on to assure them that He will send His Holy Spirit to help and comfort them, and in this, they will have His peace.

Application: I love road trips! Ever since I married my husband, road trips have been a part of our lives even after our children were born! It’s highly possible they’d been across the country on a road trip before they could walk! Back in those days, we navigated with a paper map (my job), and took many side trips to discover some pretty unique sites in our country.

These days, paper maps have become obsolete with the advancement of technology and the invention of GPS. However, even with the change of methodology, road trips continue for us, and we usually reach our intended destinations without much trouble. Unfortunately, there have been times when we’ve taken a wrong turn from either an unlabeled map or a GPS that hasn’t been updated. When that happens, we end up in a place where we didn’t want to be.

That’s a lot like another trip on which we’re all traveling. It’s a spiritual road trip, and where we end up depends on whether or not we pay careful attention to and follow the directions we have been given. The destination is heaven and, as you’ve probably guessed, the map or GPS is the Bible. There’s only one way to get there, and the directions are very simple to follow. Here are the Scriptural signposts that mark the way.

Signpost #1

• “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” – Romans 3:23
  • The realization that we are all sinners and can never measure up to God’s holiness on our own is the first stop.

Signpost #2

• “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
  • We must understand that our sin results in eternal separation from God, but the Lord Himself provides the way to everlasting life with Him.

Signpost #3

• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
  • God’s love for mankind is so great that He sacrificed His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, so that humanity would have the opportunity to have their sins forgiven and be reconciled to Himself.

Signpost #4

• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” – Romans 10:9
  • Realizing that as sinners, we need a Saviour is critical to our salvation. By placing our faith and trust in Christ… His death, burial, and resurrection… saves us. We cannot pay the sin-debt we owe; we cannot be good enough for it; we cannot work for it. The only way to reconcile ourselves to God the Father is through God the Son, Jesus.

Signpost #5

• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:13
  • Salvation is as easy as A-B-C:
    • Acknowledge that you are a sinner.
    • Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins, was buried, and then rose from the dead 3 days later as the Saviour of the world.
    • Call upon the Lord to be forgiven of and saved from your sins.

Signpost #6

• Congratulations! You have now been adopted into God’s family, and one day you will reach your final destination. Jesus is currently preparing a place just for you in His heaven, and soon He will come again and take you to be with Him forever! “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.” (John 14:2-3).

When you ask GPS how to get to a specific place, it often gives several options from which you can choose your route. Be careful on your spiritual journey. Despite what the world may tell you, there is only one way to heaven. The Bible clearly states that Jesus is the only way. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Don’t get lost on a detour! Choose your route wisely!

Memory Verse: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

I've found a friend who is all to me,
His love is ever true;
I love to tell how He lifted me,
And what His grace can do for you.

Saved by His pow'r, by His pow'r divine,
Saved to new life, to new life sublime!
Life now is sweet and my joy is complete,
For I'm saved, saved, saved.

 (from “Saved, Saved” by Jack P. Scholfield)