Thomas said to Him [Jesus], “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” ~ John 14:5-6
Have you ever been lost?
I’ve spent my whole adult life trying to get lost, but only once have I ever succeeded. Smart phones and GPS give us a cheat, but even before then, my father instilled such a sense of direction in me that I cannot actually get lost. I innately know which way is north. We spent hours during my childhood pouring over maps. My dad seems to have the entire United States road system memorized.
Thomas was lost. Jesus was trying to give them directions to Heaven, but Thomas was lost.
On my own, Heaven is probably one of the only places I cannot get to. Neither can you.
Thomas was looking for a road map. He wanted to know exactly how to get from point A to point B.
In Jesus’s answer, He gives Thomas more than a map. Jesus doesn’t leave it at “I am the way.” He wants us to live along the journey.
Ever notice how eager we are to get to our destination in life? We work hard to *finish* college; once engaged, we eagerly anticipate the wedding date; once pregnant, we long to hold our babies; and once we have those babies, we wish for them to grow up so we can sleep again. We always want whatever is next.
Jesus says He is the truth and the life. What if He meant for us to enjoy the journey? The years will pass whether we pay attention or not. If He wanted Thomas (and by extension, us) to get to heaven as quick as possible, He would have given a step-by-step list of how to get there. Instead, He simply says to follow Him, trusting that He is the way, the truth, and the life.
If we follow Him, we get so much more than just a road map to heaven.