Christian Living

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More now than ever before, people seem to be focusing on religion and never consider what having a relationship with Christ really means. Religion has split many people and churches apart. It's funny how people who claim to be "religious" really don't have the vaguest idea of what God wants them to know.

When I think about religion, I think about the Pharisees, the greatest hypocrites of the day, whom Christ Himself rebuked because of their shallow and false beliefs. Religion is nothing more than rules, rules and more rules. God knows we can not follow rules and so He sent His Son to do away with all but two. The first is to love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. This doesn't mean the person next door to you. It's your fellow man. Christ brought a message of this love because when all is said and done, it's the only thing that works. This is true for those in the secular world as well. Nothing aside from the truth of God's Word has ever worked, or will ever work. People have tried to do their "own thing" aside from God and every time failed. It's simple, that example was given to us from the beginning of time through Lucifer, otherwise known as Satan.

Just who was Lucifer? At one time, he was a sinless and righteous angel. He was God's right hand man if you will. He led all the angels in song and praise. Ezekiel 28 describes the king of Babylon but also Satan himself. This human king was used of Satan and so he displayed the same traits.

"Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is a match for you." Ez. 28:3

At one time Lucifer was the chief angel and knew every thought of every angel. He was also very rich and had wisdom and beauty. (Vs. 4) But then something happened. It's happening still. It's a thing called pride. Pride will always come before the fall, and in Satan's case, he fell a long way! God cast him right out of heaven and he fell to earth.

"By your great wisdom, by your trade you have increased your riches and your heart is lifted up because of your riches." Ez. 28:5

People still believe that they know it all and have all the answers. It's the view of many that money makes the world go around and without it, you are nothing, can do nothing and are to be looked down upon. This is not the truth! Money destroys if it is served as an idol. Money is meant to serve us not the other way around. But, this is the false beliefs that cause many to fall and become a victim to sin, just as Satan discovered. Let's look at what happened and see if there is any corralation between him and man today.

"Thus says the Lord God, you had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, the topaz and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day you were created they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you. By the abundance of your trade you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned; therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground." Ez. 28:12-17

It's very clear that God loved this angel of music and created him with righteousness to inherit everything in the kingdom. But, his pride destroyed him and mankind ever since. Just as God sentenced him to a life in the Lake of Fire one day, He also makes it clear for those who follow this adversary that hell will be their eternal home as well. But, one thing we have that Satan doesn't, is a chance to repent and follow Christ as our Redeemer and Savior to inherit an eternity in heaven. But will we choose this life giving chance or will we do things in the order of Satan?

Satan was first righteous, without sin but then his arrogant pride corrupted him to an eternity of sin. Because of him, this sin is now man's inheritance from the beginning of his birth. We have no hope on our own to be righteous and sinless. It's our burden to carry if we should so choose to keep it. God gives every person, everywhere the choice to become sinless and righteous and live forever with Him and to inherit all these riches that Satan once had. But, there is one stipualation, we must believe in His Son Christ and admit that we are sinners and lay down our lives for the One Who laid His life down for us on the Cross.

This belief and confession of Christ is the ONLY thing that will cover us in righteousness. God accepted the blood sacrifice of His Son and was the only thing that would appease Him for all of man's sins. When we are saved, we are covered in His mighty blood and now God only sees us in Christ. All our sins of pride, greed, arrogance, selfishness, covetousness etc. are forgotten and forgiven.

Friends, if you are one of these "religious" people believing that you will inherit heaven because of your good deeds, I pray you will open your heart up to Jesus and let Him enter in. It's not about religion. Christ was not a Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Muslim, Buddhist, or Mormon. He taught and brought the message of Christianity...to EVERYONE! This Christianity is a relationship with a loving Father through a loving Son Who gave us His very own life to give you back yours. If you don't know Jesus today, won't you ask Him to come into your heart and let Him know how sorry you are to have sinned against Him. He will forgive you and cleanse you and call you His child if you admit this from your heart and confess it to others.

This forms a very special relationship between the believer and the Lord. We are now His and He is now ours and no sin is found in us. It's not a matter of being good or doing good works that God cares about. But for some reason, religion has led many people down the wrong path of believing that they can somehow earn favor before a righteous God.

False doctrine has never explained to them the power of the blood of the Lamb who was slain for our sins. It has nothing whatsoever to do with us as individuals. We all fall short no matter how wonderful we may be on the outside. Our hearts and souls are just naturally tainted with sinful thoughts and deeds. This is what God sees, not if we "religiously" go to church every Sun. or give to the missions or other charities to be seen by others.

Religion many times is the 'wrong spirit', many times demonic ones that sound pretty convincing but don't be confused for the Truth. A relationship with Christ will never lead you astray. How do I know? I know from experience that my Savior has never left my side no matter what situation I have experienced. He has brought me through many many troubled times that if I had tackled them on my own, I feel safe in saying that I would not be here today.

People will still stubbornly rely on their own intellect, their own wisdom to claim control over their lives and neglect the fact that like Satan, they are a created being. There is only one Master Creator and it's only when we can fall on our knees and give it up all to Him and admit that without Him we are nothing and that we will never succeed on our own. Religion won't save you...only Christ will do that.

Christianity is for everyone...even you!

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