There is an interesting little story in the Book of Genesis chapter 11 in regards to a group of people building a tower in order to reach God; we know this as the Tower of Babel. These people are so enthusiastic about encountering God that they take it upon themselves to build an incredibly tall tower so as to facilitate the meeting. Though it is debatable if they are trying to climb to Heaven themselves, or merely providing a descending staircase for deity to utilize, the point is that they think they can do something to invite the presence God or Heaven.
Isn’t that the way some people think? That God can be reached according to any religious system which they may manufacture. The audacity it must take to think that somebody is going to determine how God, Heaven or salvation is going to be reached, rather than “playing according to His rules” is beyond me. The first major fallacy in that line of thinking is that God can be reached from the bottom up – that we can merely choose which system works best for us, and God will just have to accept that. God made the universe, He is God. He gets to determine how and when we will approach Him. His rules.
God has already provided a way for us to reach Him, and it does not consist of good thoughts, man-made religious constructs, or all the positive thinking in the world. What it consists of is Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ. Abiding in Jesus Christ. God has sent His Son Jesus to die on our behalf, that we might be reconciled with our Creator. No other way, or thought processes. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” No towers. No happy thoughts. No works. No other roads, just Him, the narrow road.
You see, when it comes to salvation, it is a “top down” theology, rather than a “bottom up” one. We don’t initiate a relationship; God did that first – Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Top Down. Remember when Christ died and the veil was torn in Matthew 27:51? “And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” It was torn from the top down, communicating that God was initiating the process of reconciliation to Him through the work of Christ.
You don’t have a choice of religious systems from which to choose to find God. In fact, you do not have the freedom to “invent” your own theological system. You have only one choice, Jesus Christ; the question is whether or not you will follow Him. Other than Christ, all other theological systems are vain pursuits of futility, or just about deluding yourself about feeling good this side of eternity. Nope, it’s not about euphoria, or finding something you think is to your liking; that’s “me”ology, not theology!
It’s about finding the Truth that God offers, and embracing that Truth. It is about a true, accurate, surrendered relationship with the King of Kings, Jesus Christ that reconciles us to God for all eternity.
One road. One way. His way.
Choose well. Choose now!
