Sweet and Salty Similarities

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:15-25

Scurrying around the kitchen, Valentina gathered ingredients for sugar cookies. She opened the bag of flour and dipped a measuring cup into the fluffy whiteness.

Mom came in to help. “I want to talk with you about that show you were watching,” she said as she cracked an egg into a bowl. “I’m concerned about what it told you about heaven. Was it biblical?”

Valentina shrugged. “I guess. They talked about thinking good thoughts, helping people, and following the Golden Rule. They even interviewed famous religious people about how to live your life and get to heaven. It was similar to what the Bible says.” She grabbed the bag of sugar.

“So how do you get to heaven?” asked Mom.

“All religions say basically the same thing,” said Valentina. “That you can get to heaven if you do good things. Lots of people believe that.”

Mom frowned, then studied the recipe. “I have an idea to improve this recipe.”

“Okay,” said Valentina, glad to be talking about the cookies again.

“How much sugar does it say we need?” Mom asked.

“Two cups of white sugar,” Valentina read.

“Let’s switch out the sugar and use salt instead.”

“Okay.” Valentina reached for the salt canister, then stopped. “Wait. Two whole cups of salt? That’ll ruin my cookies! We have to use sugar, not salt.”

“I don’t think it matters what we use—they’re basically the same thing.” Mom moved around Valentina and flipped the cap off the salt. “Salt and sugar are similar. They’re both small, white, and grainy.”

Valentina stared at her mom. “But the cookies will taste gross! They’ll be salty instead of sweet.” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to tell me something?”

“We need sugar to make cookies,” Mom said, “and we need Jesus to get to heaven. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the only way to heaven. He is God and has provided a way for us to have a relationship with the Father in heaven by dying for us and rising again. We can only get to heaven by believing and trusting in Him.”

Valentina thought about it, then nodded. “I get it. For those who follow Jesus, eternity will taste sweet.” – Jessica L. Lehman

How About You?

Do you think all religions are the same? Like salt and sugar, religions can look similar. But when you examine them closely, you’ll see they’re not the same at all. Many religions tell you how to earn your way to heaven. But the Bible says it’s impossible to earn your way to heaven. That’s why Jesus earned it for you. The only way to heaven is to trust in Him. (See the ABCs of Salvation in the column to the right.)

Today’s Key Verse:
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus is the only way to heaven