Immediately before the crucifixion, Jesus said to his disciples: "'Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.' 'No, we don’t know, Lord,' Thomas said. 'We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!' Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.' Jesus replied, 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father'" (John 14:1-9 NIV & NLT). 

These comforting words describe the way to our eternal home in heaven. We have a "Go Home" setting on our satnav; it so helpful when we need to find our way home from the centre of a large distant city. I just tap the screen once and follow the instructions. We are led through a maze of streets – many of which are one-way – and safely guided through the "Spaghetti Junctions" that all cities seem to have now. Compare that to the old days of using an A to Z city map book – if you happen to have one!

The disciples didn't know where Jesus was going or the way to get there, even though Jesus had tried to make this clear to them on many occasions; neither had the penny dropped as to who Jesus really was. Their main concern was in the simple fact that Jesus, who they loved so much, intended to leave them. And hadn't he previously said: "Where I am going, you cannot come"? I can certainly appreciate their confusion and their desire to have things clarified.

We may, in 2021, understand the above passage in general terms, but how well do we truly know and appreciate "The Way" in terms of the Person of Jesus? Am I learning more all the time; understanding more and appreciating more of the wonders of my Lord and Saviour? Is it leading me into a deeper and closer relationship with Him, greater heart-worship and more profound gratitude? My heart's desire is to be increasingly aware of his presence with me.

Christianity was originally called "The Way". Many call themselves "Christians" but how many of us are truly radical disciples? "The Way" is not easy. It is often extremely difficult. Jesus warned us not to become one of his followers without first counting the cost. We are called to be like Him in our thinking, acting and responding to all that happens to us in this life. How well are we doing?

"The Way" is also a pathway from earth to heaven which is entered through a gate. Jesus said that he himself was that gate (John 10:7). He also said: "You can only enter God’s Kingdom through the narrow gate" (Mt. 7:13). For those who are on this pathway we are to fix our eyes on Jesus and on what is eternal; not on what is temporary. We are to fix our thoughts on Jesus, not on Moses (Heb. 3:1-6): on his identity as the Son of God, on his God-glorifying endurance under such severe suffering and on him being the Author and Perfecter of our faith. We are also to make sure that our hearts are in heaven not in earthly treasures. The main point being the location of our heart-of-hearts; is it here or there? All this makes it clear that to be of earthly good we must truly be heavenly minded. It is also very pertinent to our dear brother David King whose thanksgiving service is today and who personified all I have been sharing here.