John 14:4-6 
Jesus said: “You know the way to where I am going.”  “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
As Jesus prepared his disciples for his death, he assured them that although he was going away from them there were perfect plans for the future. There would be plenty of room in his Father’s home. Jesus confidently assured the disciples that they knew where he was going but Thomas, with characteristic candour said that he no idea where he was going, so how could they know the way. Jesus replied with the famous statement: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” 
Christian faith is all about Jesus. It’s all about following a person, not just a set of beliefs. Queen Elizabeth was always clear about her personal faith in Christ, and year by year her Christmas broadcasts were an opportunity for her to share the way in which that faith inspired and strengthened her. Her faith was clearly not just an agreement with a set of principles or doctrines, but a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
I lived in India for two wonderful years. It is a beautiful and amazing country but I was always frustrated that I couldn’t get hold of any really good maps for the area where I lived. So on many occasions I would find myself on the edge of a village needing to get to a particular house without any idea of how to get there. I needed help and I soon discovered that there were two ways in which people would try to help me. There were those who gave the sort of “left, right, right again, left, straight on, and immediately left” instructions. Kind as those instructions probably were they only confused me. But far more often a person would say, “I know that place, I will come with you.” I am so grateful that the Lord doesn’t give us those long confusing directions that we are supposed to remember but says, “I know where you need to go. I will come with you.”
That was the faith of Queen Elizabeth. As we thank God for her life let’s make sure that we are following her example and allowing Jesus to be for us the way, the truth and the life.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you offer to walk with us through all the challenges of life. We praise you for the godly example of Queen Elizabeth and pray now for her family and especially King Charles. May we all know your presence with us as we mourn the passing of this wonderful Christian woman, and may her life continue to inspire and strengthen us as we live for you. Amen

Released on 11 Sep 2022