A weary traveler was afoot, trudging through the sticky sands of the Mohave Desert on his journey to Barstow, California—the heat blistering this time of day. Head down he labored forward.
After a time, miraculously, an old Indian on a burro appeared before him, stopped, and asked: “Why are you traveling on this dusty road in the heat of the day?” The beaten traveler looked up and replied, “I’m searching for the one road to Barstow.” The old Indian grinned, chuckled, and twisting on his burro replied, “Look ahead—you can see that there are many roads to Barstow—they all lead there.” The traveler squinted and looked out upon the barren landscape. Numerous sandy blanketed roads were now before him. He noticed that all the roads led in the same general direction, but that they fanned out in a half-circle, like a freshly cut pie. The traveler peered back up at the Indian on the burrow and paused, “Have you ever been to Barstow?” The Old Indian chuckled, “Well, no, still I’ve been traveling these paths for years—just haven’t found it yet.” He winked, struck his burro a light slap with a stick, and trotted off, down yet a different trail than the one he’d emerged from.
Are There Many Ways To God?
Undeniably, there is a worldly concept that permeates mankind’s consciousness. It’s this: That there are many ways to God, many roads of access to him. Holding hands with that idea is the concept that we are all the children of God. Now the Bible is clear: all people are God’s creation (Colossians 1:16), and that God loves the entire world. Still, are there a multitude of ways to God’s heart? Are we all now, in fact, the children of God? Here are but a few thoughts from some of the world’s noted religious men.
“…Soul is a conscious entity, a drop of the Ocean of All consciousness, and in its miniature capacity carries all the divine attributes of Godhood. Since it is environed by mind and matter, it has lost its heritage and forgotten its origin, the True Home of the Father. The Masters come to our help, to awaken us from this long slumber of ignorance. All the past Masters including Christ have been stressing the importance of this inner development of soul.”
__Kirpal Singh
“When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine yourself.”
___Confucious
“We are all part of the One Spirit. When you experience the true meaning of religion, which is to know God, you will realize that He is your Self, and that He exists equally and impartially in all beings.”
__Paramahansa Yogananda 1893-1952
Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva
“In Hindu cosmology, the powers, or energies of the One are divided into three primary expressions: Brahma, the creative power; Vishnu, the energy of preservation; and Shiva, the force of change. Creation arises, is sustained for awhile, and then things change. That’s the dance.”
“He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.”
__Buddha
“Whoever desires the world and its riches, in a lawful manner, in order to withhold himself from begging, and for a livelihood for his family, and for being kind to his neighbor, will come to God with his face bright as the full moon on the fourteenth night of the lunar month.”
__ Prophet MuhammadTAKE GOD AT HIS WORD
The men above proclaimed some great truths to mankind. And yet, not one of them declared himself to be the son of God. God proclaims in his Word, the Bible, that there is one, and only one way to access him. That is by way of his son Jesus Christ. We’ll take God at his word.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)
Christ declared that he would raise us up!
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5)
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Act 4:10-12 KJV)
WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD?
Answer: The Bible is clear that all people are God’s creation (Colossians 1:16), and that God loves the entire world. (John 3:16), but only those who are born again are the children of God. There is nothing that you have done that can separate you from the love of God, but you. It is best said in the scriptures. Take God at his word!
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: (Jhn 1:12 KJV)
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1Jo 3:1-3 KJV)
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40 KJV)
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:15-17 KJV)
JESUS CHRIST IS A COMPLETE SAVIOR, SAVING TO THE UTMOST!
So are there many roads to God? Buddha never claimed to be the son of God, nor did Mohammed. Of course, you will make up your own mind, one way or another. God gave us free will to choose. Regardless of the past, the wonderfulness of it, or, the wretchedness of it. Regardless of how you were raised, nurtured, or abandoned and hurt—God has always loved you. He’s cried out for you and gave his most precious possession—his son. Your past should not determine your future! God will never let you down. He took the first step to secure your life, regardless of how much false religion was shoved down your throat; regardless of the lack of faith in your upbringing— in his kingdom is love evermore. Reach out to him. He will never leave you nor forsake you. It doesn’t mean men won’t have some ill effect on your life going forward. It does mean that you will have eternal life, be raised from the dead, or be gathered upon Christ’s return. God’s promises are true. Take Him at his word. There is only one road to God, and he built that road through his son Jesus Christ. It’s the best road for your journey. It’s your choice. A blessed eternity is a long time. What do you have to lose?
Agape,
Anthony Barbera
