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Do
Not Be Deceived
By
Doug Post
May
2,
2004
The
apostle Paul wrote "Do
not be deceived..."
(Galatians 6:7). How can Christians be deceived? Do
they not have the Holy Spirit literally and personally dwelling in
them as some contend? If so, would He not prevent the Christian
from being deceived? Obviously,
this is not what Paul is suggesting! However, Paul continues,
"God is not mocked..."
No one can mock God and not suffer the consequences of it.
So, how does one mock
God? Paul writes: "for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." The law of
sowing and reaping stands true for the Christians and non-Christians
alike. It has been in effect since the Garden of Eden. Some of the
principles of this law are:
1. If
there is no sowing -- there is no reaping.
2. The reaping is always more than the sowing.
3. If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption.
4. If we sow to the Spirit, we will reap eternal life.
Christians
can sow to the flesh or to the Spirit. It
is a choice. But one cannot mock God by sowing to the flesh and not
expect to not reap the consequences. For every action there is a
reaction, whether good or bad. If we make our lives good and sow only
good things, (to the Spirit) we will reap good things: "love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness,
temperance – we shall reap eternal life
(Gal.5:22,23). However, if we live our lives sowing to the flesh:
"adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions,
jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy, murders,
drunkenness, revelries, and such like:
- we
shall reap corruption (Gal.5:19-20). "Let
us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we
faint not." (Gal.6:9)
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Create
A Thirst
A
young salesman was disappointed about losing a big sale. He lamented
with his sales manager: "I
guess it just proves you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make
him drink." The manager replied, "Son,
take my advice; your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make
him thirsty." So
it is with evangelism (cf. Mt. 5:13). Let's so fill our lives with
Christ that they create a thirst for the Gospel!
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I
WONDER WHAT THAT IS
UP THERE
Doug Post
This
summer, explorers will be allowed to journey up Mount Ararat to
determine what that massive structure is that the melting ice cap in
the Turkish mountain really is. U.S. and Turkish explorers will make
the 17,820 foot climb in mid-July. Last year's European heat wave
melted the icy top and exposed a huge object that has generated talk
of something 450 feet long. Daniel P. McGivern, America's point man on
the planned trip, is optimistic that they will, pending Turkish
governmental approval, be photographing Noah's ark. Since the 1950's,
there have been reports of a "boat-shaped formation in Agri
province
I
do not know what you think. It is really too early to form educated
opinions about what that huge object is. I know that there have been
past archaeological discoveries that have substantiated previously
unknown characters (Caiaphas) and events (Jericho walls falling)
asserted by the Bible but denied by the skeptics. If what is uncovered
on Ararat is not the ark, secular media may have a field day with
simpleton Christians and their treasured "myths." Yet, if it
turns out to be a large boat forty-five feet high, seventy-five feet
wide and 450 feet long, it will not be enough to sway the agnostics of
earth.
Well,
it might persuade a stray one here or there. But, if the order and
design of the
universe and the life inhabiting it, the moral consciousness of
humans, the inclination to worship someone or something, the
cosmological arrangement of the earth in relationship to sun, moon,
and stars, and other clear evidences do not do the trick, why will
verification of the existence of the vessel that escaped the global
flood do so? To me, that is far less impressive than the evidence God
has already left us.
Sure,
it would be nice for the artifact to be Noah's ark. However, do not
expect it to turn the heads of the hard-hearted. For many, only their
appearance before the King on Judgment Day will be enough to cause
their knees to bow and their tongues to confess. But, we can pray
otherwise!
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Are
Christians “closed-Minded”?
By
Doug Post
There’s
a new reality show in which ten people are picked to live in a house
with five people who have very unusual beliefs compared to most
people. These "normal" people must live in the house and
take part in various rituals and ceremonies, which coincide with the
beliefs of their hosts. Whoever shows the most enthusiasm and is more
open to new experiences will win $50,000. During one episode, one of
the hosts who is a "voodoo priestess" wanted the guests to
participate in a ceremony of awakening the spirits of her African
ancestors.
When it came time for the ceremony to begin several of the
guests, because of their Christian beliefs, chose not to participate.
The host was later interviewed and stated that it was very
disappointing to see that the people who chose not to participate were
so “closed-minded.” She went on to say that it was sad that they
were so set on their beliefs that they would never be able to
experience anything "worthwhile." This
woman's theory is absolutely absurd! She simply doesn't understand
what it is to be a Christian. If we all did everything we had an
opportunity to do simply because we wanted to broaden our horizon, we
would be slaves to the world and all the evil in it. The
people who chose not to partake in these worldly activities were very
brave and right to do so. "And
do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and
perfect will of God" (Rom. 12:2). Taking a stand for the
truth does not make one “closed-minded”; it means he is courageous and sanctified. Is it true that people who
are so set on their beliefs are not able to ever experience anything
"worthwhile"? Absolutely
not!
Christians,
though part of the world, are not OF the world.
I feel that this "priestess" and Christians would strongly
disagree on their ideas of something "worthwhile." To this
woman, a heathen ceremony is a "worth-while" experience,
whereas to Christians, getting to heaven is much more important.
"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for
so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt.
5:12).
Christians must put aside their desires to take part in the
"fun" and worldly activities if they indeed are things that
God would not have us to do. I hope we can all realize that there is
no cash prize or reward that can save us if we are found disobedient
in the end. The
only thing "worthwhile" to us should be obeying the gospel,
even if we are labeled as "close-minded" for doing so.
It will be well worth it!!
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