When a loved one questions the core of our faith, it’s an opportunity to share the transformative truth of the Gospel. Recently, a father faced this moment when his son, who does not yet believe, asked if he was destined for hell. The father’s response was both honest and compassionate: “Yes, if you do not repent and put your faith in Christ, you will not be with Him when you die.” This was the sobering bad news. But he didn’t stop there. He shared the good news—the heart of Christianity—that Jesus, the Son of God, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to pay for our sins, and rose again, conquering death and sin. Through faith in Jesus, we are reconciled with God, forgiven of our sins, and given new life with the hope of eternity in His presence.
This conversation reflects a profound truth: Jesus is the only true path to God, and following anything else leads to deception and illusion. To understand why, let’s explore this truth through an analogy, Scripture, and the hope it offers.
The Analogy: A Path Through the Forest
Imagine you’re lost in a vast, dense forest. The trees tower over you, the undergrowth is tangled, and darkness creeps in. You’re desperate to find your way home, but countless paths stretch out before you. Some are wide and inviting, lined with flowers; others are narrow and mysterious, promising shortcuts. You try one path, then another, but each leads to a dead end, a swamp, or worse—a mirage that looks like safety but vanishes when you draw near. These false paths are illusions, deceiving you into thinking they’ll lead to freedom when they only deepen your lostness.
Then you discover one path unlike the others. It’s not just marked by signs; it’s alive, radiant with light, and guided by the very Creator of the forest. This path doesn’t just point the way—it carries you, sustains you, and ensures you reach home. This is Jesus. He is not merely a guide or a set of teachings; He is the living way, the only true path to God. Every other path—whether it’s self-reliance, other religions, or worldly philosophies—is like a mirage. They may look promising, but they lead to deception and separation from God. Only Jesus, who declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, ESV), is the real, eternal road to salvation.
The Bad News: The Reality of Sin and Separation
The father’s initial response to his son was rooted in the sobering reality of sin. Scripture teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV). Sin isn’t just a mistake or a minor flaw; it’s a rebellion against a holy God, creating a chasm between us and Him. The consequence of sin is death—both physical and spiritual—and eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23). This is the bad news: without intervention, we are all lost, destined for a life apart from God’s presence.
In the forest analogy, sin is what strands us in the wilderness. We’re not just misplaced; we’re incapable of finding our way out on our own. Every attempt to forge our own path—through good deeds, moral living, or alternative beliefs—falls short because none can bridge the gap between our imperfection and God’s holiness. Other paths may offer temporary comfort or the illusion of progress, but they cannot lead to the true destination: reconciliation with God.
The Good News: Jesus, the Living Way
The father didn’t leave his son in despair. He shared the good news that changes everything: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only way to God. Jesus lived a sinless life, fulfilling the law we could never keep. He died on the cross, taking the punishment for our sins upon Himself, and rose again, defeating death and proving His power over sin. Through faith in Him, we are forgiven, reconciled to God, and given new life with the promise of eternity in His presence.
This is what sets Jesus apart from every other figure, philosophy, or religion. No one else has conquered death. No one else has paid the price for our sins. No one else offers a living relationship with the Creator. As Acts 4:12 declares, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (ESV). In the forest, Jesus is not just a signpost or a map—He is the path itself, alive and powerful, carrying us to God.
Why Other Paths Lead to Deception
In a world filled with countless beliefs and ideologies, why is Jesus the only true way? Because every other path relies on human effort, human wisdom, or human constructs, all of which are flawed and finite. Other religions and philosophies may contain elements of truth or moral guidance, but they cannot address the root problem of sin or provide a way to stand righteous before a holy God. They are like the mirages in the forest—enticing, but ultimately empty.
For example, some paths teach that salvation comes through good works or self-improvement. But Scripture says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV). Others suggest that all paths lead to God, but Jesus Himself warned against false prophets and deceptive teachings (Matthew 7:15). These alternative paths may offer temporary peace or purpose, but they cannot deliver eternal life or true reconciliation with God. They are illusions that distract from the one true way.
A Message of Hope
The conversation between the father and son is a reminder that sharing the truth about Jesus is an act of love. The bad news of sin is not meant to condemn but to point to the good news of salvation. Jesus doesn’t just offer a way out of the forest—He offers a relationship with the God who created it. He invites us to walk with Him, to know Him, and to live in the hope of eternity.
If you’re reading this and wondering, like the son, about your own path, know this: Jesus is not a distant figure or a rigid doctrine. He is the living Savior who loves you, died for you, and rose again to give you life. The choice is yours—will you trust in Him, the only true path, or chase after mirages that fade? As the father told his son, through faith in Jesus, you can be reconciled with God, forgiven, and given a new life with the hope of eternity.
For believers, this is a call to share the truth boldly and lovingly, as the father did. Pray for those who are lost in the forest. Point them to Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. And trust that the God who sent His Son to save us is still at work, drawing hearts to the only path that leads home.