Do all Religions lead to God?

It has been well said that 'God has put eternity within the hearts of men'. The Bible declares that God created man as 'a living soul’, and 'in His own image'. It is not surprising therefore that man alone has a spiritual awareness that was put there by his Creator. It is estimated that there are about 3/4 of a million religions in the world today. Wherever one goes there is evidence that man seems to be incurably religious! The big question in our multi-faith, all tolerant society must be ‘Who or what is right?’

One way forward presented by Jesus comes with simple starkness - 'Seek and you will find'. In our spiritual quest the all important question must be - Which religion is God-given, and which religions are therefore man-made, however sincerely held to? I cannot conceive that the living God would come to us as a terrorist or as a grotesque statue.

The Bible reveals a God of love, mercy, justice and peace, through whom countless millions have found new life, purpose and hope. God’s attributes are consistently revealed in Creation, the Bible and experience. So the God who made creation 'very good', also forgives our sin and remakes our broken lives in a 'very good' way today. Jesus alone amongst the major religious leaders of history declared Himself to be God, and He backed it up by living a perfect life. Most crucially of all, Jesus alone claimed to forgive sin and be able to restore people to a right relationship with the living God. The hallmark of true religion must be - not what I have done for God, but what God has done for me.

Jesus declared 'I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me'. (John 14:6) We may conclude that this is intolerant, narrow or even arrogant, but is it God's salvation we want or man's religion? Jesus said 'For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance'. (Matthew 9:13). Are you willing to submit to God's way of pardon, peace and eternal life? This is found only in what Jesus did when He died on the cross for sinners. Why not repent and put your trust in God's way to give you that ‘clean heart and right spirit’ which we all need so much.

John Hawley