It seems very intolerant for Jesus to claim to be the only way. In our culture people are more comfortable with many ways to the top of the mountain, not one way. However, is it really possible for there to be many ways?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. On one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6

The reality is that there are fundamental differences between the religions. Dr. Ravi Zacharias says everyone has a worldview. To put it differently, everyone has a grid in which the view the world. And a worldview basically answers four key questions. Origins, meaning, morality, and destiny. And when you start asking these questions you find the religions give very different answers. Take for example the question of destiny. A Christian says that a believer goes to heaven. A Hindu and Buddhist generally believes a person is reincarnated. A Muslim believes in going to paradise. And an Atheist generally believes we just return to the dust. So who is right? These are all competing claims. They can’t all be right. Unless of course you are reincarnated as a particle of dust in paradise!

So then the question is not so much is there only one way, but rather which way is the right way to God? To be truly open minded, we need to be open to the possibility of only one way. Can Jesus be the only way to God? Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn. 14:6) There is no reason to doubt this claim since Jesus is the fulfilment of over 300 prophecies. His death is recorded in history, and we still have several eye witness accounts of His resurrection in the gospels. Can Jesus be the only way to God? He sure can. You might have noticed that every other religion points to a system, but Christianity points to a person. Who else has promised the forgiveness of sins? Who else has risen from the dead to conquer death?

This is always a hard question to wrestle with. For example;In December 2004 a massive tsunami killed more than 250,000 people around the rim of the Indian Ocean. Over the following weeks, newspapers and magazines were full of letters and articles asking ‘Where was God?’ One report wrote: ‘If God is God, he’s not good. If God is good, he’s not God. You can’t have it both ways, especially after the Indian Ocean catastrophe.’ (Quoted from Timothy Keller, Reason for God, pg23)

‘In December 2004 a massive tsunami killed more than 250,000 people around the rim of the Indian Ocean. Over the following weeks, newspapers and magazines were full of letters and articles asking ‘Where was God?’ One report wrote: ‘If God is God, he’s not good. If God is good, he’s not God. You can’t have it both ways, especially after the Indian Ocean catastrophe.’ (Quoted from Timothy Keller, Reason for God, pg23)

It is true that the Bible shows God to be sovereign over all things. He is in control over all that happens in His world. Not one atom is out of place. This truth is of great encouragement, for the Christian knows that he or she is safe in God’s hands. But, then what about evil? The Bible makes it clear that God is not the author of evil (James 1:13). Satan brought evil into God’s good creation. And it was Adam and Eve who disobeyed God. As a result of their disobedience, God being just, punished them. So, why is there evil and suffering? It is because Adam and Eve brought God’s curse on this world. So the finger shouldn’t be pointed at God. The Times once asked ‘What’s wrong with the world?’ G.K Chesterton wrote back, “I am.”But, then if God is sovereign, why doesn’t He put a stop to evil and suffering? The good news of the Bible is that God has put a stop to evil! Through His Son Jesus Christ, God has conquered Satan, sin, death, and as a consequence suffering, through the cross. For, on the cross, amends for sin has been made for God’s people. And so, through Christ, God is working to restore all things including this creation. Through faith in Christ, and not our own works, we become part of this grand restoration project.So the question is not ‘why is there evil and suffering.’ The question is ‘How could a just God show such amazing grace?’ We deserve far worse for our sin! And yet, God still provides the air we breathe every day. God still gives sinners an opportunity to repent.So, when the Christian is confronted by suffering, he or she only has to look at the cross to see God’s love, and be assured that the suffering will be used for their good (Rom. 8:28), and that whatever happens, the suffering of this world, will not change the blessed eternity and full restoration that awaits!