A better way

343 a better wayMy daughter recently asked me, "Mum, is there really more than a way to skin a cat"? I laughed. She knew what the saying meant, but she really had a real question about this poor cat. There is usually more than one way to do something. When it comes to doing difficult things, we Americans believe in "good old American genius." Then we have the cliché: "Not is the mother of invention". If the first attempt fails, one secures oneself and leaves another to it.

When Jesus taught about himself and the ways of God, he gave all things a new perspective. He showed them a better way, a way of the spirit of the law, not the letter (of the law). He showed them the way of love instead of the way of judging and accounting. He brought them (and us) a better way.

But he did not compromise on the way to get to salvation. Many of his stories about the inadequacy of the law indicated that there is only one way to go about some things. The way to salvation is the way through Jesus alone - and only Jesus. “I am the way, the truth and the life,” he said in John 14,6. With that he left no doubt that you don't have to look for anyone else (translation: New Life, 2002, throughout).

Peter said to Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and other relatives of the high priest that there is no salvation except through Jesus. "In all heaven there is no other name that men can call on to be saved" (Apostles. 4,12).

Paul repeats this in his letter to Timothy: "For there is only one God and one mediator between God and man: that is Christ Jesus, who became man" (1. Timothy 2,5). However, there are still some who are looking for other options and alternatives. "What? You can't tell me there's only one way. I want to be free to make my own decision!”

Many try alternative religions. Eastern directions are particularly popular. Some want to have a spiritual experience, but without the structure of a church. Some turn to the occult. And then there are Christians who feel that they have to go beyond just believing in Christ. This is called "Christ plus".
Perhaps for some the simple act of faith without doing anything for salvation seems too easy a way. Or too easy. Or it seems too easy to get away with the thief on the cross whose simple plea of ​​Jesus to remember him was granted. Could the criminal record of a criminal whose heinous deeds demanded the crucifixion be erased - only by a simple profession of faith to a stranger who was hanging on the nearest cross? The thief's faith was enough for Jesus. Without hesitation, he promised this man an eternity in Paradise (Luke 23: 42-43).

Jesus shows us that we don't have to look for alternatives, options or other ways to skin the proverbial cat. We just have to verbally confess that Jesus is our Lord and believe with all our hearts that God raised him from the dead and will save us (Romans 10: 9).

by Tammy Tkach


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