Christian Living

---

There was a story in the media this year concerning the problem with obesity in America. Studies have shown that Americans have a tendency to eat too much. With all-you-can eat buffets, super sized portions and discounted combo meals; it is difficult to resist the temptation. The results of these studies shouldn't be a huge surprise. Food isn't the problem really, it is the portions and types of food that we choose to eat which causes us trouble with our weight.

The same is true with modern thoughts about religion. Today it seems that personal morality is the barometer of a man's soul. Sadly, so many people tend to get caught up in their own theology ideas about what is right and wrong. It's just like standing in the buffet line at a restaurant; people want to pick and choose the type of things they like. If it's something that they don't like, they don't pick it. If you ask someone what will happen to them when they die, many will have their own philosophy about life after death and you will get a variety of answers. Many people base their beliefs either on books they have read, people they have listened to or just their own humanistic reasoning. There is a grave danger in that kind of thinking. Eternal life isn't about what you or I think, it is about what the Bible says. It isn't something objective.

We can't risk eternity by picking only the parts about the Bible that we want to live by and ignoring things that we need. Mark Twain once said that it isn't the things in the Bible that he doesn't understand which gives him problems but the things that he does understand that gives him the most problems. Being a Christian has nothing to do with us walking around as perfect, holier-than-thou beings. If we do, then we are extreme in the other direction. We need to live a balanced life so that others can see that Jesus Christ wants to be a friend and not some sort of celestial Santa Claus.

Serving God is serious business. Sadly we all have friends or relatives who think they can take a little bit of each religion but what they fail to understand in the whole analytical process is that what they are doing is placing religion above a relationship. God demonstrated this to the Children of Israel in the Book of Hosea. God instructed for Hosea to marry a woman who would not be faithful to him. Not only was it embarrassing that he married a woman named Gomer but also knowing that she was a prostitute and would not be faithful to him. Gomer would be the example of what Israel was to God. Although God's people were unfaithful to Him, He still loved them just as Hosea loved Gomer and kept taking her back.

Today we are much like God's people were in Hosea's day. People are unfaithful to God. Matthew 24:11 tells us that in the last days there would be false prophets. We are also warned that they are so convincing that they could deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24) There are many preachers in the world preaching a lot of things but some of which isn’t biblical and their opinion. They aren't all bad but there are many preaching their own philosophy. Now more than ever, it is important for you and I to take the initiative and do our own homework when it comes to the Word of God. We should get the Bible out and read it for ourselves. We should pray over the Word and let it come alive in us. Don't wait for the preacher to read it to you on Sundays and interpret it for you. Don't fall prey to sugar-coated religion. You know the saying - if it sounds too good to be true then it usually is. Study it for yourself. Not to prove or disprove the preacher but to keep your life in line with the Word.

All roads do not lead to Heaven. In this day of what people call "religious tolerance" we are told that we should accept everyone's religion and be open-minded. The problem is that this tolerance will lead to eternal destruction for many people. Matthew 7:13 states that “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” If you have noticed that they go out of their way to protect the religious freedom of all of these other religions and their other Gods but at the same time, fight to limit the rights and freedoms of Christians. It's not truly freedom for all. Why do you think that is? Why is Christianity being silenced? It shouldn't be a surprise to us that the enemy doesn't have a problem with religion. He has a problem with the truth and a risen Savior.

Eternity isn't a buffet line, fast food theology or a home cooked religion, it can only be found at one place - the foot of the cross. Christ paid the price. There are no other choices on the menu. He's the only choice. All we have to do is accept Him and abide by His Word.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE