Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. . . . No one who denies the Son has the Father. (1 John 2:22–23)
MY FRIENDSHIP WITH HANNA unraveled on the day I told her I believed Jesus is the truth and the only way to God. Her scorching response hurt, as did our ultimate parting of ways.
Hanna’s father had been a pastor, but his harsh behavior as a father led Hanna to reject Jesus. She believed there were many ways to God and pursued Unitarianism and transcendental meditation. Her supernatural experiences while meditating convinced her that she possessed authentic spiritual truth and was close to God.
The apostle John bluntly declared that anyone who denies Jesus is the Christ is a liar and antichrist. These are strong words and would likely be labeled politically incorrect in today’s religious environment. Nevertheless, John emphasized that no one who rejects the Son has the Father. There are no exceptions, and it does not matter how confident a person might feel about their relationship to God.
If we believe Jesus is the truth and the only way to God, we can reasonably expect to find ourselves on a collision course with those who believe that truth is relative and that there are many ways to God. We need to hold fast to what Jesus has said and not let go when the pressure is on. Only then can we be confident we have the Father and the Son and that our eternal destiny is secure.
Make a personal commitment today to uphold God’s truth boldly if it is challenged.
Carol Chase and her husband live in Surrey, British Columbia. She is a retired administrative supervisor, enjoys gardening, and loves to pray for others.
