You Can Be As God!
Do you seek God? Which one? Yes there are many to choose from. Just pick the one you like, or you can just create your own. Why not just be your own god? Others will probably follow you, worship you. These days religion is like cable tv, just keep flipping until you find what suits you. Don't like what the preacher is saying? Find a new church. Don't like what the book says? Throw it out and find a new one. Your god too demanding? There are plenty of others out there.
We live in a "do what feels good" culture. Our national pastime is entertaining our egos. Our "spirituality" mirrors that culture. I'm not talking about the ancient religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, even animism and witchcraft, have some foundation, some structure. The "new" religions, by comparison, are based only on what feels good. They have no structure, only a chaotic mix of whatever you "believe". They steal ideas and doctrines from wherever they find them, building a religion of "personal fullfillment". One minute they are talking about Jesus, the next Buddha, but never about personal responsibility, never about sacrifice.
There is only One True GOD, every religion acknowledges that. Some may place others along side HIM, but all agree that there is ONE SOURCE of all else. GOD. We can talk and fellowship with such people, as Paul reasoned with the Greeks. They acknowledge a creator and our responsibility toward HIM. We can not just "do as we please" and "seek our own path". But the new breed of religion says that what feels right is right. Follow your feelings.
This isn't exactly "new". It has been around from the beginning. The serpent planted that seed in the garden when he spoke to Eve "ye shall be as gods". And thus began mans love afair with self. He could be "like god", he could be his own god, and thus make his own rules. He could create his own reality, change the universe to his own will, make things in his own image. After all, was he not made in the Image of God?
GOD IS... It is up to us to come to terms with that. We can be honest with ourselves, and acknowledge He created us, not the other way around, or we can paste on a few fig leaves and pretend we are gods. But when he comes near, we will realize how naked we truly are. Those who allow themselves to be taken in by this, oldest of lies, allow themselves to fall under a strong delusion. They, as Jesus pointed out, will swallow a camel and choke on a gnat. They find it easy to believe the most bizarre teachings of men, but are unable to see the reality of GOD. They are consumed by their own wanton desires.
Not all of these are "new age" cultists. Many are "christian". Or they call themselves christian. They embrace our fellowship, talking about GOD and Jesus, showing 'good works' and faithful service. Yet they follow their own way, casting aside what is not to their liking and replacing it with their own 'beliefs'. Always with them it is self. Their gifts, their call, their walk. They do not serve but are served. If they do not like a scripture, then they will tell you what GOD really meant, and of course they have their own revelation which is more enlightened then that written centuries ago. They have created their own religion based on their feelings and beliefs, not unlike the new agers. These Jesus reproofed saying "depart from me, i knew you not".
There is only ONE GOD. HE created all things, and is above all things. HIS command is the only command. Man has built up religions and traditions to explain HIM, but HE can not be contained within our traditions nor explained by our religions. We can not put HIM into a convenient little box. HE IS GOD. All our religions, all our beliefs, are weak attempts at knowing HIM. To think that we can somehow "be as gods" is the deepest of self-centered egotism. What is man that GOD should even notice him?
But GOD is a loving Creator, and HE seeks to fellowship with what HE has made. HE reaches down to us, because we can not reach to HIM. HE places HIMSELF into HIS creation, that we might see HIM. HE places HIMSELF into us, that we might know HIM. HE has shown us HIS majesty through HIS prophets, HE has shown us HIS fullness through HIS SON, HE has become one with us through HIS SPIRIT. We have no excuse. If our pride and ego separate us from HIM, it is because we choose to be blind. HE shows HIMSELF to all who will see.
Any who seek HIM in truth, will find HIM. If we study the religions of the world we will find, not only the Creator, but also the concept of sin and redemption. Hidden deep within all is the knowledge of man's need and GOD's provision of salvation. Behind all the dogma, behind all the ego pleasing doctrine, there is the shadow of a Savior, a "man/god". Even in nature itself we see our Savior in the butterfly, in the seasons, in the seeds we plant each spring. Throughout creation, GOD's SON is proclaimed.
Salvation did not begin 2000 years ago, when Jesus walked the earth. The scriptures tell us that Abraham was saved by faith. Where did his faith lie? Jesus said "Abraham saw my day and rejoiced in it". Abraham found the Redeemer by faith. There was no church, no preachers. He understood GOD's provision for HIS creation. The scriptures call our Lord "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world", He has always been our Savior. David knew this, as did all the prophets, they only lacked His Name.
We know His Name, the only Name given in Heaven or in Earth whereby we might be saved. We know the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father. We know in whom we have believed. There is no excuse for us to fall into the deception of being our own savior or our own god. It is not hidden to us, not deeply woven into the tapestry of our traditions. It is plain and open to us. Our Gospel is the revelation of the Redeemer, promised from the time of Adam. It is the 'Good News' that He has come, and we know His name. No longer a shadow, but a physical reality we can point to and say 'see how He lived' 'see what He said'. Emanuel, GOD with us.
Modern Christianity has become just another religion. There is little more salvation in our sanctuaries than in a Buddhist shrine. It is GOD that saves, not our religion. "Christian" was a name given to those who first proclaimed the Name of the world's Savior, the Christ. Christianity has become a religion based on that proclaimation. It has been so polluted with ritual and doctrine that it is little better than the religion of the pharisees. Our churches are little more than a shadow of the True Church, the Body of Christ on Earth. Todays "christians" are blown by every wind of doctrine, seeking that which feels right to them. GOD will not be mocked.
Jesus has shown us the Way, and He has given us His Spirit that we might walk as He walked. This is not a religion, this is a life. We live, because He lives in and through us, or we have no life. If we seek GOD, then we must follow HIS SON. There is no other Way. We can not get there through our vain imaginations, nor through any ritual or work (magical or mundane). There is only One Way back to our Creator and that Way lies through the Cross. We can not walk that path alone, only through His Holy Spirit. If we give our selves over in complete obedience to the guiding of the Holy Spirit, He will show us Jesus and lead us along the Path.
Forget whatever 'religion' you practice, whether it be muslim, hindu, wicca, or even christianity, and seek GOD. HE is there, reaching down to you. HE will fill you with HIS SPIRIT and reveal to you HIS SON. There is provision for your redemption, His Name is Jesus of Nazareth, called the Christ, the very Son of the living GOD. He is the WORD of the Creator made flesh. He has been from the foundation of the world, and will be forever, our Lord and Savior. All things have been given to Him by His Father, that He might present us, blameless, as the obedient children of GOD.
If you want to know more about the relationship between Jesus and His Father GOD, or the true nature of the "children of obedience". Pray... GOD will hear you. Talk to HIM, ask HIM to show you the truth. Open your heart to HIS Holy Spirit and He will lead you to your Savior. If you desire counsel or someone to pray with you, i would be honored to hear from you. Email me. i won't preach at you or judge you, only share what GOD has given me. May the LORD GOD give sight to you that you may, like Abraham, see your Savior and rejoice.
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