I have visited many churches,
but not all of them teach the same message.
I once visited a church that encouraged its members to
illegally bring Mexican aliens into the US. I never returned. I have encountered
believers who have their own now defunct prophet, whose writings they considered
higher than God's Word itself. They were not my cup of tea! I even visited a
church once whose members didn't believe in God or His Word! I am still
wondering why they were meet together at all! And then there was the church down
the road. When we entered, they took one look at my wife, who was dressed in
pants, and with disapproval in their stance, they seated us at the very back of
the church. They then proceeded to ignore us completely. We only stayed for 15
minutes that day!
Anyone proclaiming a different message than what
Christ proclaimed is in error! His message was simple and clear: "For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9 NIV) And
this message is broadcasted throughout His Word!
Why do we tend so often to try to save ourselves by
our own works? Have we lost our confidence in Christ who paid the full price of
our salvation?
In this world there are many voices who claim to have
the truth. Even the evil one proclaims to have the truth! But truth can never be
mixed with lies. Even if one proclaims 99% truth, with only 1% of untruth mixed
in, it is no longer truth!
The sad part of this all is that many listen to these
half-truths/half-lies and they completely miss the boat!
Jesus was clear about this: "The watchman opens the
gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name
and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of
them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
(John 10:3 NIV)
If we are followers of Christ, we will follow Him and
Him alone, because we "know His voice"! No other voice will do!
"But they will never follow a stranger; in
fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's
voice." (John 10:5 NIV)
Those modified gospels proclaimed throughout the
country are not from God, and they are robbing us of real life: "I tell you the
truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and
robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them… The thief comes only to steal and
kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
(John 10:7-8, 10 NIV)
Who among these false prophets would be willing to die
for us? There is only One who was willing,
and He sure was no false prophet, the One with
the real message: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know
me-just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life
for the sheep." (John 10:14-15 NIV)
In case of doubt, God in His mercy has given us two
reliable guides that we can trust:
1. God's Holy Spirit: "But when he, the Spirit of
truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13 NIV)
2. God's Word: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a
light for my path." (Ps 119:105 NIV)
Despite this, many have somehow deformed God's Word by
their own interpretations. They
even encourage their members to only read the
writings of their own denomination. The problem is, God does not work that way.
His Spirit is the author of the Scriptures ("All Scripture is God-breathed…" 2
Tim 3:16 NIV) and only His Spirit can reveal to us its message!
What happens when we ignore the message?
Two drivers were frantically looking for a parking
spot in Acadia National Park, Maine. Desperate, they decided to park on the
beach. They ignored the warning against high tides that were posted everywhere.
Being from inland, the ocean seemed so far away from where they parked and they
were sure their cars would be safe during their trek.
When they returned to their vehicles, they were
greeted by park rangers. Aghast, they discovered that both of their cars were
half immersed in ocean water! I don't know if they received a parking ticket or
not, but it would have seemed like a little thing compared to the damages they
procured to their vehicles.
Following our own interpretations and understandings
costs dearly. There is only one message. None other will do!
How about parking on the beach? It such a beautiful
spot! Others do it! Why can't we?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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