December 26, 2021: The One

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, NKJV).

Growing up in a loving Muslim home—led by my generous, strong, industrious mother—was a tremendous blessing to me. A commitment to the five pillars of Islam provided a foundation upon which I developed a reverence for an omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God.

However, that foundation also left me seeking more. In spite of my questions and misgivings, I persisted in my desire to walk with God unreservedly. I wanted to know truth—even if it made me uncomfortable. One day, while at my university campus job, I lowered my head onto the desk and prayed, “God, please show me truth. No matter how you direct me, I just want to know truth.”

Through books, people, music and study helps, God was preparing my heart and mind to be confronted by a powerful claim by Jesus: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” I was struck by the absolute nature of this statement. I was struck by its simplicity. I grappled with it, nonetheless. Jesus was not A way, but The way—The One. The more I learned about the exceptional beauty and overwhelming love and character of this God, the less I could deny His claim. I became convinced of Christ’s sovereignty.

My life changed completely. I had found Truth! The peace, joy and strength of choosing to walk in His way, rest in His truth and experience and anticipate His abundant life is daily encouragement for the world-ravaged soul.

God, may we walk, rest, abide and trust in the love and care of the One who is the way, the truth and the life. Amen.

Naeemah Shakir Phillip is a member of the New Market church in Virginia.