“To Whom Shall We Go?”

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In the final portion of John 6, Jesus had been deserted by many of His followers (vs. 66). Seeing this, He turns to the twelve and asks, “Do you also want to go away?” (vs. 67). Peter, upon hearing this question, begins his response with another question. He asks, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” (vs. 68). This is a question many in the world are asking today, with many replying very differently than Peter. Let us consider the places some go today to find spiritual direction.

Shall We Go To Men? Many, when faced with this question turn to respected men instead of the Lord. The Bible warns of the danger in this over and over again. In Jeremiah 10:23, the weeping prophet states, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Solomon stated the same truth in another way. He said, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12). We must realize that, when it comes to determining what direction our life should take, using the words of man as our source of authority is both wrong and dangerous. However, we are constantly bombarded with names like Martin Luther, John Wesley, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, and others who in the eyes of some are infallible. It would do us well to remember the words of Peter to Cornelius. When Cornelius fell down to worship Peter, Peter told him to stand up. Why? Peter said, “I myself am also a man” (Ac. 10:26). Don’t think more highly than you should of any man. Realize the opinion of a fallible man is no place to seek direction for your spiritual well-being. Not being able to go to men, we move on in our search.

Shall We Go To Creeds? I pose this question in this article for the simple fact that some would rather take what their denomination’s creed book says than what the Bible teaches. The word creed means “I believe.” The way the word creed is used today is almost always speaking of the articles of some particular denomination which govern its practices. To have an uninspired book govern the way a group of people worship, believe, and obey the God of heaven and earth is objectionable on many points. First, it is written by a man. As we have already noted, men are fallible and likely to error. Secondly, we need nothing more than the Bible to guide our walk before God. Paul told Timothy that “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We do not need a discipline, confession, catechism, or manual to guide us, for God’s word and it alone can make us complete. The evangelist Benjamin Franklin wrote: “First, any creed containing more than the Bible is objectionable, because it does contain more than the Bible. Second, any creed containing less than the Bible is objectionable, because it does contain less than the Bible. Third, any creed differing from the Bible is objectionable, because it does differ from the Bible. Forth, any creed precisely like the Bible is useless, because we have the Bible.” To use a creed to govern our faith and practice is to deny the all-sufficiency of the Bible!

Shall We Go To The Lord? Returning to Peter in John 6:68, his full statement was: “Lord, to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life.” We must realize, as Peter did, that we cannot turn to ourselves, another man, or some writing of a particular denomination to find the way of life eternal. Only Christ has the words of life, and those words are found only on the pages of inspiration – the Bible. This is why Jesus could boldly say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6). My friend, do not take something for truth just because some respected man said it, some denomination taught it, or it is the way you think to be best. Take something as being truth because it is what Jesus revealed as truth in His word!

David Eldridge