Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” – John 14:6
It was the summer of 1990 and in the Middle East, Sadam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, had invaded and occupied Kuwait after Kuwait allegedly began drilling for oil in an Iraqi oil field. In the United States, President George H. W. Bush felt the actions of Hussein should not stand. The United States put together a coalition to deal with the matter, and out of it grew Operations Desert Sheild and Desert Storm. In a speech on August 7, 1990, President Bush said he was drawing a “line in the sand,” a boundary that Iraq should not cross, a place where a firm stand would be made against any further aggression by Hussein.
A line in the sand is a metaphor for the place where someone takes a position that they are ready to defend and from which they will not retreat. It is firm and immovable.
When Jesus was discussing the time that lay ahead of Him when He would depart the earth, He told His disciples that He was the exclusive Way to the Father, that He was the exclusive Source of all truth, and that He alone held all life in His hands. He drew a firm line in the sand. No one was going to be able to come to the Father except through Him. Yet in His exclusivity, He is inclusive in that He invites everyone to come to Him.
Theologian William Kaiser, Jr., wrote, “The issue, then, is not whether or not we like this claim, but whether or not it is true. … Our problem is that we do know about Jesus and are living in a culture in which Jesus is all too well known. … If, then, this claim is true, two conclusions follow. First, we are deceiving ourselves if we think that we can come to God any other way than through Jesus. What is more, no other way will supplement or add to Jesus as the way. Second, if we are already following Jesus, we are called, in John’s terms, to be witnesses to the truth and life found in Jesus.”
Have you drawn your own line in the sand when it comes to standing for Jesus? He alone is trustworthy. He stands with you! Pray for the president, and his defense, security, and intelligence advisers, to know when drawing lines in the sand politically and operationally are essential for the good of America and the world.
Today’s Verse: John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 14:1-11
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
