March 26 I Friday

Joshua 22-24

Luke 3

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  —Acts 4:12

One of the popular creeds in the twentieth century is “pluralism.” Not “pluralism” in a sense of ethnic, cultural and political differences that we share, which is good and to be respected in society as well as the church. Rather, “pluralism” as in the philosophy that says there are many equally valid truths and valid ways for a person to find God. The common religious ideology today is that if I find a religion that is good for me, that is my truth; if someone finds a religion that is good for them, that is their truth. In other words, “I’ve got my truth, you’ve got yours.”

       Often cited is an ancient Indian parable, where six blind men are taken to an elephant and each describes what they believe the elephant is. The first feels the side of the elephant and says, “It’s a wall.” The second approaches the tusk and says, “It’s like a spear.” The third runs his hand on the trunk and says, “It’s a snake!” The fourth reaches out to the leg of the elephant and says, “This is a tree.” The fifth touches the ear and says, “It’s like a fan.” Finally, the sixth holds onto the tail and says, “It’s a rope.” The idea of this parable is that each of us has one aspect of truth, but in the end, it is all one big elephant. In other words, we are all climbing up the same mountain using different paths, but when we get to the top, we will discover that where we were all headed was the same goal. 

       There is a huge skepticism in our day about the possibility of knowing that something is true or claiming that your truth is absolute truth. This notion regards the idea that Christ is one way to God, possibly the best way to God, but He is not the only way to God. This logic, however, is flawed because if Christ is not exclusively the means by which human beings may know God and be reconciled to God, then we have no option than to declare Jesus Christ to be a liar and a deceiver. If Jesus Christ is not true, He is the biggest fraud in all of history.  

       Do we fully believe in the sufficiency of Jesus or are we searching for our own truth? Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Notice that Jesus did not say, “I am a way and a truth and a life” but “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Jesus is not a fraud—He is the only truth.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, You are the only truth in a world saturated with pluralism and skepticism. I fully believe in Your sufficiency. Thank You, Jesus.