A freighter was moored to the dock at Mumbai (formerly Bombay), taking on cargo for Italy. The Indian clerks, “Parsees,” checking the cargo, were continually washing their hands in large pans of water conveniently placed in the warehouse where they were working. Talking to one of the clerks, I asked him why they were so diligent in this washing of hands.
He replied that it was part of their religion; they washed their hands whenever they had a sense of defilement. He added, “We worship the same God as you Christians, and it doesn’t matter whether the way to Him is by the Parsee road or the Christian road.”
I told him that the true knowledge of God, while revealed in part by the ordered creation all around us, is fully revealed by the written Word of God, and that same Word tells us that, though “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” yet there is only one way by which man can meet a holy and just God.
“Well,” the Parsee said, “if you want to see the captain of this ship, you walk up the ladder on the ship’s side and, arriving on deck, proceed to the captain’s cabin. If I want to see the captain, perhaps instead of using the ladder I may climb up a rope and so get to the deck and make my way to the same place. You go your way and I go mine, and we both reach our goal; we both get to see the captain.”
“No! No!” I answered. “You cannot apply that illustration in terms of a freighter. Consider rather that you and I want to see the commander of a warship, which is the very expression of law, government and order. I go up the warship’s ladder, and on arrival on deck I am challenged by the sentries guarding the only lawful entrance to the warship. I present my pass, the sentry says, ‘Pass on,’ and I am allowed to proceed.
“Now, if you climb a rope or attempt to gain an entrance by any other way than the appointed way, you are at once challenged by the marines on guard. You will be arrested, imprisoned, and will meet the captain only as a judge. There is only one way!” “He that...climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:11Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)).
The Word of God says, “I [that is, Christ] am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)).
The way of reconciliation to God is by the death of His Son. The pass which fully satisfies the law is written and signed by the Spirit of God: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)).
MARCH