So there’s this thing about living and working in the Northwoods. It’s called “meeting Canadians.” Now, to be honest, my Northwoods are still a few hours from the Great White North, but it’s still close. Once in a while, the following happens at the toy store:

“Hi there, all set?”

(nods)

(scanning items)

“Alrighty, your total is $7.54.”

(customer fishing around in wallet and/or pockets)

(silence)

“Uh, do you accept Canadian quarters?”

The hard thing is that these people (Canadians or otherwise…don’t get me wrong, this isn’t just something Canadians do. Also, I have some dear Canadian friends back at school, so nothing against anyone here) are sincerely genuine. They really hope and believe that their foreign currency will work. After all, it’s still a quarter of some kind, and it looks like an American quarter, and it has value to the Canadian government. But, being an American store, no matter how far north we are, we can’t accept it. It’s not the right kind of cash. There is only one kind of quarter we can take, and that is the American one.

It makes me think about the Gospel. Think of how many good people are out there–nice people who volunteer at the local soup kitchen, knit scarves for unwed mothers, and donate money to the cancer research fund. Most people attend some kind of religious service, and a lot of folks might even read their Bibles. However, Jesus says in John 14:6: 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to Father except through me.”

James adds:

“You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder” (1:19). 

You can believe in a god, or even the One True God, all you want. Without belief in Jesus Christ, though, it doesn’t have any value. It doesn’t mean anything simply to “believe” (take that, you lying secular inspirational office posters). After all, even the minions of Satan himself believe in God!

Jesus is the only way. He is the gate to the Father. You cannot know the Father without the Son (John 14:7, 8:19). 

What do you believe about Jesus? What do you think about his claims to be the Son of God (John 8:58, John 4:24-25, Mark 14:60-62, and more).

I have seen the truth, and His name is Christ.