The Way – Be Single Minded

John 14:6(NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

I have been thinking about this verse a good bit lately. Jesus says He is the way. What exactly does that mean? I think it’s easier to understand that He is the truth. We know the difference between truth and untruth… at least in concept. Something true is correct, proven, supported by reality, reproducible in science, etc. Something untrue is a lie, not supported by reality, not reproducible in science, etc. There is truth in any and every aspect of life. It may be a truth in the Bible, but it can also be a truth in nature, in chemistry, in politics, in accounting, in biology. In everything and in every field of study, truth exists.

But what is the way? In a nutshell, I think “the way” is how we are to do things. I actually googled the word to check myself and found that many times it is defined as a course or passage, as if the “way” is a road. I don’t think that is wrong. But I think the word “way” is more than that. I have a large and very old (1965) dictionary that I decided to use to validate the definition. I was surprised to find it had a full single-spaced column of definitions for the word. Most include a type of passage or road, as is stated above. However, there are some that define “way” as “a usual mode of acting” or “a means by which anything is reached”. I believe the understanding of “way” includes all of these.

If you ask me the way to the bank, I will provide physical directions. If you ask me about the way someone usually behaves, I will provide insight into their character. If you ask me for the way to get out of a bad situation, I will provide advice. So, I think the true definition is one that speaks to any and all areas of life. The “way” is our suggested “how”. For there are many ways to get to the bank, but there is a best way. There are ways to behave, but there is a best way. There are ways to get out of a bad situation, but, you see where I’m going… there is a best way. Jesus provides the best way for us in all situations. He, as the way, provides the best way to live our lives. The fact is that, as we follow Him, He is actively involved in our lives, we just have to listen and follow (Isaiah 30:21).

I think it is amazing that such a simple word can be so all-inclusive. We all have a “way” about us. We have a high-level way, the path we took for education, employment, etc. We have a more personal way, how we behave, love and live, what we set our affections upon, what we work for, what we seek and what we invest in throughout our lives. All of these things are our “way”. Our goal is that our lives reflect Jesus’ way. Jesus’ way is the way that will not disappoint. Jesus’ way is the only way that, when our days are finished on this earth, our mortal lives will amount to anything worthwhile. Jesus’ way is, as this scripture reveals, the only way to God the Father.

The Bible talks about there being a way that seems right to us but it doesn’t produce a good outcome. (Proverbs 14:12) Here, Jesus talks about the only way that leads to God. What if Jesus just said that He was truth and life and then talked about coming to His Father? We would know truth but not know what to do with it. We would live life as best we could but perhaps not live it well. We need the way. The “way” incorporates truth and life into everything we do. Jesus’ truth. Jesus’ life. As followers of Jesus Christ, we learn His way and choose to do things His way because He is the way.