We Christians are frequently criticized for claiming that Jesus is the only way to salvation. Our critics find it abhorrent that they would be denied their God given right to shop the divine real estate market for their dream afterlife home. The problem is they have become so enamored choosing a designer house they haven’t bothered to check out the neighborhood in which it was built. Even the marginally religious seem to think they will qualify for a jumbo loan and exchange their wilderness fixer-upper for a move-in ready celestial chateau. Sadly, they are still a long way off from the closing date and end up spending an uncomfortable lifetime sweating over their sketchy sin credit score. Jesus, knowing that the wilderness will soon be demolished to make way for the New Jerusalem, warns us to stop pouring mammon into our earthly money pit and start investing in a heavenly habitat. He then goes away to prepare a room for us in His Garden mansion and even lets us off the financial hook by making a one-time payment on our behalf. We have a choice; we can nervously hope that we will have enough good karma at closing time to make a salvation balloon payment, or we can rest assured that we will be eternally debt free because the place prepared for us has been fully financed by the blood of the Lamb.

If you believe our human problem is vague then any vague salvation scheme will do, but if you believe the problem is ultimately a broken relationship with God then you will understand the power of the cross. All people yearn for the lover of their soul but most are deathly afraid of making an eternal life commitment. Instead of taking the divine plunge they pacify their relationship phobia by insisting on playing the divine field. Instead of tying a rope around their ankles and nervously entering the Holy of Holies they seem content to party in the court of the Gentiles. God honors the right of human beings to make the most important decision of their life (and death). So before you get all bent out of shape about Jesus being the only way, remember that God isn’t forcing you to do anything. He desperately wants to spend eternity with you but graciously allows you the freedom to choose your own destiny. Jesus offers eternal life to everyone; it is our ability to choose that makes it exclusive.

God invites us to be afterlife athletes in the salvation X-Games. If you feel like your spirit needs a bit more excitement then I invite you to compete, but you need to take this event seriously because in these games there are only winners and losers, you don’t get a heavenly trophy for just participating. Can you think of any more extreme, adrenaline-generating sport than working out your salvation with fear and trembling?

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2: 12-13)