Written by Pastor Jack Wellman-Harry Ironside
Substances
Tragically, when people are without God, they try to fill that void with drugs, alcohol, shopping, work, social position, job, home, car, and so on, but there is always going to be something missing without Christ in a person’s life. We can’t substitute anything for God, because it always falls far short, and leaves us wanting more.
Works
When I speak to people about Christ who are not saved, they reason, “I’m a pretty good person,” but I remind them that none of us are good (Rom 3:10-11), and any good things we do will be like a bunch of filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). No works can ever get us to heaven (Eph 2:8-9), but people bound for heaven will naturally do good works; not as a substitute for Christ, but as a service for Christ.
Religions
When I was studying about the world’s religions, I noticed one recurring theme; almost every religion stressed doing good things to get to heaven, or wherever they think they go after they die. Most religions focus on “do, do, do,” but with Christ, it’s “done!” There is nothing in all the universe that can substitute for Jesus’ atonement. No amount of “doing” will do anything. It’s not about religion, but about a relationship with Jesus Christ.
No Substitute
There is no substitute for the precious blood of the Lamb. Some say that there are many paths to God, but the Bible teaches that Jesus is the One and Only Way (Acts 4:12). I would say that there are only two paths, but there’s one path you don’t want to take. One leads to the Great White Throne Judgement and the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15), but the other leads to eternal life, and that is found only through Jesus Christ alone (John 6:44).
Conclusion
Harry Ironside got it right when he said, “Christ is a substitute for everything, but nothing is a substitute for Christ.” If you don’t have Christ, you don’t have eternal life; all you have is the wrath of God abiding on you (John 3:36b), and that’s no way to die. Come to Him today that you might believe and be saved. There is no substitute for Jesus Christ.
