by Kevin Avery
When following Jesus, there are no shortcuts. Life doesn’t become easier simply because we love Him and trust Him—Jesus is not a genie in a bottle. Neither does it mean life will always become harder just for believing in Jesus, though persecution certainly happens when we follow Him with all our heart. We oversimplify to assume Jesus will make our life easier or harder. Either perspective needs to be transformed because the truth is: Life is Jesus. Truth is Jesus. The same thinking applies to the journey we are taking. The journey is—at least should be—Jesus. I do not mean this in a philosophical way like when Pilot asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). I mean it in a transformative way.
In John 14:6, Jesus says, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. When John wrote this verse, he was using Greek. Often, the Greek term ὁδός (hodos) is translated as way, as when Jesus says, I am the way and the truth and the life. However, it can be translated literally as road, path, or journey, or figuratively as way (or manner) of thinking, feeling, or deciding. Most English translations of John 14:6 use the figurative way. However, I believe all these possible translations have much merit. Everything about a believer’s life, whether literal or figurative, should point to Jesus and be about Him.
In this manner of thinking, I understand that whether we are blessed with treasure—like being married to an amazing wife—or afflicted with adversity—like dealing with an autoimmune disease—everything is a part of our journey to know our Heavenly Father through Jesus. Each day as Hebrews 12:2 tells us, we are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Every difficulty or joy we encounter is a chance to know Jesus better. In addition, we are on this journey together, even if some members, like me, are homebound. Thankfully, at Braden Park, homebound members are just a phone call away, and prayer is not limited to a location. As Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, it begins: Our Father who is in heaven … and what a blessing it is to pray for and pray with other disciples of Christ Jesus.
Rev. Kevin Avery is our former missionary to China. Through his on-line ministry with ITEE Global, he encourages and prays with pastors in Asia, Africa and the US. (iteeg.org)
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