One Thing!

I have been thinking about the number one. It comes first; it is the first-born, first fruits and before all other numbers. It is also about priority or exclusiveness. Number one in the rankings is pretty important in this world. We look up to number one. But in God’s economy there is also one thing to know and understand.

For the King and Psalmist David there was “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4). For him the “one thing” was the Lord. He also wrote in Psalm 62:11 that, “One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.”

 Jesus’s parable of the rich young ruler addressed this issue. “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” He said. ‘“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”’  For this man wealth was the one thing he could not give up for now. It was too hard to give up earthly things to find heaven and salvation for eternity.  Similarly, when Jesus was meeting with His dear friends Mary and Martha, He responded to Martha’s asking for help with preparations saying, ‘“but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”’  He is telling her that Mary has chosen the one thing that cannot be taken or lasts forever, sitting at Jesus’s feet and hearing and trusting in His word.

Why does it seem that seeking God in Christ Jesus is the “one thing” in life that matters most? It is not politically correct in today’s world to identify one thing or one way, as it seems today’s culture says to tolerate and even receive and believe all beliefs as equal. But sadly and importantly, not all things are true. Pontius Pilot asked, “What is truth?”  (John 18:38).  He found nothing wrong with Jesus and what He had done. Unfortunately he did not have the courage to claim His innocence to the religious leaders and release Jesus. But God had greater plans for the salvation of the world through His Son. You see Jesus would need to die for our sins and be resurrected again to His rightful place in heaven to rule and reign.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12). This is the powerful and saving truth, that Jesus is the “one name” through whom we may find forgiveness of sins and salvation. Jesus claimed Himself to be the one true God and the only way. “Jesus answered (Thomas), ‘“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”’  (John 14:6). Jesus is the creator of the universe and He is the “living word” of the Bible that existed before time. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”  (John 1:1). God in Jesus Christ is the Word of life, the healing word and saving word.

The time is short as Jesus is returning soon to rule and reign on earth again; but first the wrath of God or the tribulation will occur. It will be too late to choose the one decision needed then. We must choose Jesus as Savior and Lord now to be saved, and soon it will be too late. What better time than Christ's incarnation or Christmas to choose Him.