Which Way To Salvation -By Shem Godwins

Ever found yourself in a strange place and opted to ask for directions? Well the directions given always tend to be complicated that one may end up losing their way before even they are half way to their destination. But what if instead of directing us, a person offers to take us to our desired destination? This person therefore becomes our way and makes it easy for us.

Romans 3:23-25 declares that all men have fallen short of the glory of God. Yes, mankind have lost direction on which way to take in the journey of salvation. This has greatly been broadened by the fact that we have given the work of building our relationship with God to third parties in the name of preachers. We have relied too much on the preachers to give us the direction to salvation not realizing that their lives are full of black spots hence the contradiction that manifests when we try to take the directions they give.

We should always have in mind that these preachers, most of their preaching and teachings are guided by the dogmatism of the religions or Christian movements that sponsors their ministries. Many of them claim to be telling the congregants the truth when in reality none of them embodies what they teach. At a subsequent reflection after attending their services, Christians usually fail to find sense and meaning and eventually tap out and return to the ways of the free world. The question is, what are we to do as Christians to rescue or find our way to true salvation?
In john 14:6, Jesus affirms that he is the truth, the life and the way to salvation and no one one goes to the father except through him. As the life to salvation, His whole ministry has a record of steadfastness in decision making and teaching. His ways of preaching, though full of parables, had a clear message on the way to salvation and that is being true to God’s word. As the truth and life, He always in many occasions told everyone the truth as it was, no sugar coating. This is because Jesus was the enfleshment of God. He embodied the indestructible life of God (Ref: St Luke’s Gospel).None of these preachers or priests will ever embody the life of Jesus whose ministry they claim to be continuing. Their truth is like a lick in their lips that dries as soon as the tongue returns to the mouth. And so, what is the alternative that Christians and the humanity have as a worthy way to salvation that can be trusted?

In my view, the Christian alternative remains the Bible. The Bible to me forms the foundation of all truth. It gives a personal revelation of our creator who intended for man to be like himself(Gen 1:26-28),and planned for man to have a special relationship with him. The authority of the Bible asserts to Christians they don’t need to have doubts as to where it started, where it is heading and what the whole business of salvation is about for the Bible is the word of God. Through prayer and Bible study, Christians are brought into communion with God; that is, merging the finite and the infinite for an immeasurable effect.

Just like the children of Israel were to look up to the moulded snake in the wilderness to survive snake bites, Christians should seek a personal encounter with the word of God. Philipians 4:6 records that in everything through prayer, petition and thanks giving Christians should present ourselves to God. Psalms 86:11 also urges Christians that they should ask God to teach them His way to enable them walk in His truth. Through knowing Him, our faith is strengthened(Phil 4:13).The Bible is the lead antidote to the malignant flagging faith of most of people who desire salvation. It is the permanent soil from which the root system of salvation draws. Let Christians have a direct conversation with God to avoid too much confusion. Over-dependance on religious leaders only corrupts the whole system leading to a lot of chaos like the massacre currently witnessed in Kilifi with the so called Paul Mackenzie letting people die of starvation with claims of meeting Jesus.