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The teachings of Christ are simple and plain. Our problem is in the doing of them.
We make excuses for them. Real meanings are twisted and mixed with human wisdom.
Then, the true teachings of Christ are clouded and hard to understand. It is
difficult to determine the truth after it has been so twisted and abused. There is
now so much religious confusion in the world which nearly takes a Philadelphia
lawyer to figure out. But it does not have to be that way. God is not the author of
that confusion.
While Jesus was here, He taught many times about following Him, doing His will, and not listening to the "wolves in sheep's clothing who would do damage to the flock. He taught us to "watch" and not be "led away" with their smooth and fair speech. It was also made plain that a follower of Christ would be "hated of the world." He equates following Him with "taking up of a cross." Those not willing to do that were said to be "not worthy" of Christ. In following Christ, we must teach the same things He taught. And therein lies the trouble. Jesus taught that we do not have a wide berth of choices of ways to heaven that we hear mentioned today. Men tell us that in this "age of enlightenment" we don't have to be so narrow minded! They tell us we don't have to be so exclusive, and that "everyone who believes is just on a different road to heaven." "Live and let live," is one of the most popular statements made today concerning religion. We who hold to the old paths of God's truth are harshly criticized for being so "bold, " "judgmental," and "unloving" when we point out what Jesus taught about the way others live. What did Jesus teach that makes it so hard to follow? Listen to His words: "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 5:24). Satan is said to be the "prince of this world." He is in direct opposition to God. As God and Christ — being one — have followers, so does Satan. Satan and all his "angels" are "of this world" and are described as "mammon." Jesus said that He was not of this world (Jn. 8:23). These are the two masters in the world today — the One from heaven, or the one from earth. We have the choice of serving either, but we can only serve one. Here's one way we serve Satan instead of God: We profess to be Christians and follow Christ, but when we see our fellow man in sin, we refuse to tell him what Christ taught for fear that we will "make him mad." He is living in adultery and we excuse him. He is a member of a church Jesus did not build and we excuse him. In some other way he is unfaithful to God and we know it, but we refuse to show him the way of Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way," (Jn. 14:6) — not just a way. Even when we fail to do that which we know is right, "it is sin" (Jas. 4:17) and we are serving Satan. The saving "salt" is desperately needed in the earth today. It is time to stand up and speak up for the Master. Even if we are beheaded, we are in good company. "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Lk. 6:46). Who is the master you are serving — Christ or Satan? We cannot serve both. Make the right choice and be "faithful unto death." The friend of the world is the enemy of God (Jas. 4:4). |