On my last day of vacation I decided to go off by myself to the fish the Fox River for a few hours. My plan was simple … to enjoy the solitude of just me and the river and to pray that I would not encounter people.

It worked until I was walking the path back to my truck. Suddenly from out of the woods stepped a woman. Looking somewhat confused she asked me for directions back to where she lived. After answering her question, she asked if she could walk with me since we were both headed in the same direction. Reluctantly I said “yes”.

Within a few minutes I learned her name was Marcie and that she was the only Jewish Rabbi in all of Kane County. I also discovered that she was moving to Houston to marry her fiance in a couple of weeks.

OK God … I thought … You orchestrated this for a reason so I am going to ask this Rabbi some point blank questions. (here are those questions)
#1. What is your definition of Jesus ?
#2. Since Jesus is not your atonement for sin … who is ?
#3. What is the Jewish position on heaven and hell ?
#4. How do you explain Isaiah 53 ?

Rabbi Marcie gave well rehearsed answers … obviously acquired from her 5 years of training at a New York institution. Much discussion followed, but here is what struck me as I drove home … Paul, in Romans 2 and 3, informs us that the Jews were entrusted with the very words of God … yet have rejected the Savior.

Rabbi Marcie thinks she becomes righteous by simply observing “the law”. Here is what the Bible says:
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” Romans 3:20

If you know the story of Jesus … but have not asked Him to be both your Savior and your Lord … your are in the same sinking boat as the Rabbi. The answer doesn’t lie in the teachings of Moody Bible Institute or a Jewish Institution in New York. The answer lies in your faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 3: 23-24)