“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:22-23
This verse got me thinking. I started doing searches for what people believe, and found some interesting stats. Now, none of this is new, and I can’t vouch for the accuracy of any of it, but it does give a decent look into what people think. I think.
Ask if they believe in God, and get a yes from over 92% of the population in America. In the world at large, over 95% of peoples claim to have a belief in God. (Now, what I mean when I say I believe in God and what a Hindu says are two very different things, but that’s not the point of this blog. Let me continue.)
Now ask them if they believe that Jesus is the only way TO God. This is the sticking point for so many.
While 33% of the world’s population identifies as Christian. Nearly 78% of Americans believe in a historical Jesus that rose from the dead, but almost 50% of those same Americans believe that no matter what religion you follow, God will accept you into heaven. My point is this: if 33% of the world is Christian, and that, in a nation that identifies itself as Christian like the US, only half of those people believe Jesus is the only way to God, we are looking at a vast majority of the world, over 2/3, that are going to be lost eternally apart from Christ. Recent polls by the Barna Group suggest that most of us think we’re going to heaven, but we’re not sure about the other guy. Religious pluralism, the belief that all roads lead to heaven, is becoming more and more common. Do a search for belief in Jesus and see the numbers that come up. It should shock you, as well as sadden you.
Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) Couple that with the verses above, and how can you think that we don’t have a slight problem? Let Him continue on in John 5:
“Most assuredly (ummmm….that means He’s telling us something that is certain) I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (v. 24)
So if we hear His Word and believe in God Who sent Him, we have life. So what does His Word say? He just said that if you don’t honor Him, you’re not honoring God. And am I just crazy, or is not honoring God a bad thing?
So what does this mean to us? What are we doing to change this, Christian? You and I. Are we telling people? Are we living like we believe this? Or are we simply “secure” in our own “fire insurance” and playing church?
The Wading Pool 