Many Roads To Heaven
Jefferson David Tant
While bedded down with the flu recently, I listened quite a bit to the radio, and perhaps paid more attention than usual. One evening, the manager of a local radio station, was making editorial comments, and made reference to a religious "panel discussion" that had been on the air the day before. The manager is an educated and well-spoken man who obviously has an interest in spiritual matters. The statement that caught my attention was not new, in any sense of the word, but it had been some time since I had heard publicly, and in so many words, "There are many roads to heaven." He went on to suggest that we should all seek the way according to the dictates of our own conscience.
Does he really believe that? Do any of the readers of this page have that conception of Christianity and life after death? If you do not, let me assure you that there are thousands, even millions of professed "Christians" who claim to uphold the idea of "many roads to heaven." They reason that reaching heaven is just like reaching New York City. One gets a road map (the Bible) and picks out a route that appeals to the individual. The different routes (the various religious systems) all lead, eventually to the same location (Heaven). Admittedly, some routes are easier and some may be longer, but they DO get there eventually.
"So, what is wrong with that?" One may ask. "Looks pretty good to me." The main thing wrong with such reasoning is simply this — "Tain't so!" In addition, there are several other noteworthy fallacies. Consider:
Heaven is not a geographical location. If it were, it would very likely be located as is Key West, Florida. If you consult a map seeking directions for driving to Key West, you don't have much choice. There is only one road that goes there. True, the map is full of roads leading in all directions, and some jokester might have printed up a map with little arrows pointing to Key West all over the place, but that would not necessarily make it so, would it? There is still just one route to take. I am reminded of a conversation with a young man one time about the one church spoken of in the Bible. He became quite agitated during the conversation, and finally proclaimed, "The church is just like a car. All cars run, and any car will get you to where you are going." I'm not quite sure who told him the church was like a car, but have a sneaking suspicion it was not the Lord. Besides, Jesus never built a car, but He DID build a church. But rest assured that if Jesus had said the way to get to heaven was to drive a car that he had made, then no car that was built by man would do the job. Oh, they would certainly run, and might even look like the Lord's car, but if he said to take his car, then I'd be obliged to do just that. I wouldn't want to take my chances, no matter how expensive the Cadillac's or Rolls-Royces might be.
Not only is heaven not a geographically located place, but no man has ever travelled the road there and back to be qualified to tell us whether there are many roads or just one. How, then, can we rely on the veracity of those well-meaning souls who insist that "any road is as good as the next?" Where did they get their information? Certainly not out of the Bible, for it is the "road map" that Jesus Christ gave, and it certainly says nothing about "many roads." In fact, it gives just the opposite impression: "Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straightened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it." (Matt. 7:14-15) It would be hard to misunderstand that language, wouldn't it? Few — many; narrow — wide; straightened (narrow, constricted) — broad. Now, which of the following statements best expresses the sense of Christ's proclamation in Matthew 7?
(1) There are many roads to heaven. Take your pick.
(2) There is but one way to heaven. Man has no choice in the matter.
Did you pass the test? If you chose statement no. 2, you passed. Christ further comments by saying in John 14:6, "...I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." In other words, if anyone seeks to get to the Father, to heaven, it must be through Jesus Christ. And how can one come through Jesus Christ except through obedience to the will of Christ? How sad to hear religious leaders single out certain commands of Christ and say they are not important; that obedience is not necessary so long as we are sincere in our hearts; that the Bible is irrelevant and outmoded in this age. Listen carefully to Christ: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."(Matt. 24:35) "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)
Christ has been there — to heaven. He has told us the way, and we have his revealed will in the New Testament. The only choice we have in the matter is to obey or disobey. It is not enough merely to be sincere and honest, for we must also obey the will of God. Note the sincere, honest, and religious people mentioned in Matthew 7: 21-23: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by the name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Do not be misled. There is only one way to heaven. Thus we urge you to read and study your Bibles, and let no man tell you that any command of Christ is unimportant unless he can PROVE it. Choose Christ, not your parents, preacher, or opinion. Choose the Bible, not the creeds of men or dogmas of denominations. Choose the New Testament church, the Lord's church, not the denominations and religious philosophies of man. Satan has deceived mankind with false religions since the beginning of time. Don't YOU be another victim!
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