A Reminder to Keep My Eyes on Christ

1. “There is one Door, one Way, and that Way is Jesus Christ”

This is at the very center of the Gospel.

Jesus says:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Jesus also says:

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” John 10:9

So when you speak of one Door and one Way, you are pointing directly to Christ. Scripture does not present many different ways to the Father. Jesus Himself says that He is the Way.

The Bible begins with humanity separated from God because of sin, and it ends with God’s people dwelling with Him. Christ is the One through whom we are brought back to God.

2. “He is God, and I am not”

This is a deeply biblical understanding of who God is and who we are.

God is the Creator. We are His creation.

Genesis 1:1 begins with:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Psalm 100:3 says:

“It is he who made us, and we are his.”

Isaiah 45:5 says:

“I am the LORD, and there is no other.”

Romans 9:20 reminds us that the creature does not stand above the Creator.

Revelation 4:11 says:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things.”

So when you say, “He is God, and I am not,” you are expressing humility before God. He is Lord. He is Creator. He is the One who knows all things and holds all things together.

3. “This world is broken by sin, that we have fallen short of God, and that we cannot save ourselves”

That agrees with what Scripture teaches from Genesis onward.

Genesis 3 records humanity’s rebellion against God. Sin enters human history, and death and separation from God follow.

Romans 3:23 says:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Titus 3:5 says:

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”

We cannot save ourselves through our own goodness. We need God’s mercy.

This is one of the reasons the coming of Christ is so important. God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

4. “But God made a way for us through Christ”

That is the Gospel.

We could not make our own way back to God, so God provided the way through His Son.

Jesus says:

“No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Peter says:

“Salvation is found in no one else.” Acts 4:12

Paul says:

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:19

Throughout Scripture, God reveals His purposes and promises concerning redemption. Those promises find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

So when you say that God made a way through Christ, you are expressing one of the central truths of the Gospel.

5. “This life is not the end”

That is clearly taught in Scripture.

Jesus says:

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25

Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 15 that the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the resurrection to come.

Revelation 21:4 says:

“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”

Death does not have the final word.

The Christian hope is resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

6. “God has given us a promise, a living hope through Jesus Christ”

Peter uses almost exactly this language:

“He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

That is important because your hope is not based on yourself.

It is based on Jesus Christ.

It is based on His death.

It is based on His resurrection.

It is based on the promises of God.

Peter continues by speaking about an inheritance kept for God’s people in heaven in 1 Peter 1:4.

So the hope you are describing is not simply wishing for something better. It is a hope grounded in what God has promised and what Christ has accomplished.

7. “The promise of eternal life and the restoration of all things”

This is also consistent with Scripture.

The Bible speaks about eternal life, resurrection, the return of Christ, the restoration of creation, the new heaven and new earth, and God dwelling with His people.

Acts 3:21 speaks about the:

“restoration of all things.”

Romans 8:21 speaks of creation being liberated from its bondage to decay.

Revelation 21:1 says:

“Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth.’”

Revelation 21:3 says:

“God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.”

Revelation 21:4 says there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.

There is also a beautiful connection between Genesis and Revelation.

In Genesis, humanity loses access to the tree of life after sin enters the world.

In Revelation 22, the tree of life is present again, and Revelation 22:3 says:

“No longer will there be any curse.”

This shows the completeness of God’s work of redemption and restoration.

8. “That is the hope I live for while I am here on this earth”

This is consistent with the way Scripture teaches believers to live.

Paul says:

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2

Peter tells believers to put their hope fully in the grace that will be brought to them when Jesus Christ is revealed, in 1 Peter 1:13.

At the same time, Scripture calls us to live faithfully in this present life. We are called to love others, serve others, forgive, endure, work, give, pray, and walk faithfully with God.

Our hope is beyond this present life, but we are still called to faithfully live the life God has given us now.

9. “I don’t want to live for the praise of people”

Jesus speaks very clearly about this.

Matthew 6:1 says:

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.”

Jesus also warns about people who pray publicly because they want others to notice them and think highly of them, in Matthew 6:5.

Paul asks:

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” Galatians 1:10

So your desire not to live for applause or recognition is consistent with what Jesus taught.

The issue is not whether people see what we do. The issue is why we are doing it.

We can serve people, pray publicly, help others, and do good while still making God the reason and the focus.

10. “I want to live for God, knowing that He sees the heart”

This is also deeply rooted in Scripture.

When Samuel was looking at Jesse’s sons, God told him:

“The LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

God sees what other people cannot see.

He sees our motives.

He sees our thoughts.

He sees our struggles.

He sees our failures.

He sees our faithfulness.

Jesus repeatedly confronted religious people who looked righteous outwardly while their hearts were far from God.

So wanting to live for God because He sees the heart is completely consistent with Scripture.

11. “My hope is not in myself; my hope is in Christ”

Scripture continually directs our confidence away from ourselves and toward God.

Our salvation does not come from our own strength.

Our righteousness does not come from our own accomplishments.

Our future does not depend upon how strong we are.

Our hope is in Christ.

Peter calls it a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ in 1 Peter 1:3.

Paul says:

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

That makes your statement very clear.

You are not saying, “I have enough strength in myself to win.”

You are saying, “My hope is in Christ.”

That is a very different thing, and it is consistent with the message of Scripture.

12. “From Genesis to Revelation, the message points back to Him”

Jesus Himself taught that the Scriptures spoke of Him.

After His resurrection, Jesus said:

“Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44

From Genesis onward, God reveals Himself, His holiness, His covenant, His judgment, His mercy, His promises, and His plan of redemption.

Genesis begins with creation.

Genesis 3 records the entrance of sin.

God continues to reveal His covenant promises.

The prophets speak about God’s salvation and the coming Messiah.

Jesus Christ comes.

He gives Himself for sinners.

He is crucified.

He rises from the dead.

The Gospel is proclaimed.

The followers of Christ are called people of the Way.

The apostles teach believers to live in faith, holiness, love, perseverance, and hope.

Revelation brings us to the return of Christ, the defeat of death, the removal of the curse, the restoration of creation, and God dwelling with His people.

Scripture closes with the words:

“Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20

This message is consistent with the whole of Scripture.

At its heart, you are saying:

God is God, and I am not.

I have sinned and cannot save myself.

God made the way through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Door and the Way.

This present life is not the end.

My hope is not in myself or in the praise of people.

My hope is in Christ, His resurrection, eternal life, and the promises of God.

I want to live for Him while I am here, trusting the promise He has given me.


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