Do you ever question if what you are reading is true?
When I was in about the 7th grade – I might have been younger – I remember trying to teach my dad something. I was so smart! Instead, he taught me something. That textbook was wrong.
When I read, I want confirmation from multiple sources about what I am reading. However, some things are not so easily confirmed. Those multiple sources could all be sharing the same erroneous opinion.
Such is Christianity today. Eastern religions have infiltrated Christianity, and people have twisted scripture. Depending on what author your are reading or what speaker you are hearing, you may get a gospel that is based less on scripture and more on what folks want it to say. The emerging or emergent church talks a good game up to a point, but they swap out the heart of Christianity for other things. They often leave the true gospel in the wake.
I have been trying to wrap my mind around the play on words in order to get it right in my own mind. It’s a challenge because it is often mixed with enough truth to confuse.
Let’s talk about the Bible for a moment. Would you be willing to die for a lie? The apostles were willing to die. Between them, they were jailed, flogged, and executed. They were willing to die for what they believed because what they believed was true.
We know that the 12 original disciples were with Jesus for 3 years. They watched him day in and day out. The eleven that knew He rose and knew that He was God-in-the-flesh put their life on the line to share the good news. Somehow, I don’t think they would have done it if it were a lie.
What about Paul? Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. You may want to argue what he saw on that road, but you cannot argue the 180-degree turn he did to preach the gospel. If he had not believed Jesus was real and that Jesus spoke to him, I do not believe that he would have made that turn. I also don’t believe that he would have been willing to be beaten and killed for a lie.
You may want to point out that other religions have folks that are willing to die. True. But how many of those have folks that are willing to die for what they believe not to earn salvation, but because God came in the flesh and died for them? I’ll give you a hint. Zero.
The next time someone tries to tell you that God’s Word is optional or not relevant, you’ll know what to say. Do say it with conviction.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to put aside any erroneous information you may have received about the Bible. Either you believe it’s from God, and you believe it’s true, or you don’t. If you start dismissing parts of it, where would you stop? Remember, Jesus died for you. Would you be willing to die to spread the good news about Him?