








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