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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Always Learning....

Do you know people who are always learning, highly intellectual, well-studied yet they know absolutely nothing about what is really important in this life (and beyond)?  Paul speaks about this in 2Tim 3:7 where he says, "always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth."    Oh boy, do they know a lot!  They may even have many degrees next to their names to prove it too.  Some of them know quite a bit about a whole lot of different subjects and some are more "specialized" in one or two topics but, either way, these are smart people.  Trouble is, many of them don't "know beans" about what's really important. 

Ps 14:1 says, "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."  Verse 2 continues with, "The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God."  In this context, a fool is someone who lives like there is no God.  Their lifestyles show their rebellion against God.  They willingly reject God's revealed Word and treat it with contempt.  They don't believe what the Bible says about God.  They think the Bible is a collection of myths and fairy tales that mean nothing.  They scorn the moral principles laid down in God's Word and, instead, rely on their own concepts of right and wrong.  Nowadays, this is called "moral relativism."  Let's look at verse 3 now and see where "moral relativism" has taken us:  "All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one."

Not even one?!!!  I'll bet this just breaks God's heart.  So that's the end result of man relying on his own concepts of right and wrong.  Not so great, is it?  God doesn't WANT anyone at all to perish (2Pet3:9) but, unfortunately, many will perish in the end.  I've heard some use this scripture to try to prove that everyone will be saved in the end because it "isn't His will that any should perish."  God is patient.  Do you ever wonder why He just doesn't hurry up and send Jesus back for His Church?  He delays because he really wants the entire world to hear the gospel (Mt24:14) and so be saved.  He "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1Tim2:4).  That's why we are commanded to go out into the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mk16:15).  However, none of these scriptures mean, though, that all WILL in fact be saved.  All of those who continue to reject God's grace and His offer of free salvation, in sad fact, will be lost eternally.  Remember Mt7:13-14 which says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it."

I've been accused of being negative and legalistic.  But, hey, just look at God's own words.  He says that only a few will find it (the gate leading to eternal life).  Well, if only a few are going to find it, I sure want to be one of those who do.  Read His own words in the Bible.  It's all right there.  As I've said before, just read the book.  We must be obedient to ALL of God's commands.  Not just some of them (those that make us happy and feel good) but ALL of them.  Seek out that personal relationship with the Lord through prayer and Bible study, and fasting sometimes (Ugh- yes, even though fasting is hard).  Really learn what God has to tell us in his Word.  "For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Heb4:12-13).  Ouch! That ought to make us think twice before we disobey Him! 

A friend of mine recently told me of an atheist acquaintance who was so proud of the fact that he had diligently studied the various religions, evidently trying to be open minded about it all.  He was particularly proud that he'd even read the Qu'ran.  He said that none of it really convinced him about the existence of God though.  She asked him if he'd ever read the Bible and he said no.  Such a shame.  The Bible really is the only "book" that claims to be and truly is alive!   I've heard many testimonies over the years of people of other religions (or no religion at all) who have read the Bible and felt it come alive to them as they were reading it.  They couldn't explain it at the time, but they said they really felt like "someone" was talking to them as they read the words in the Bible.  These people are now born-again Christians and they now know and understand that it was the Holy Spirit speaking to them and drawing them to God; to Jesus.  There is nothing in the Bible that is a lie.  When it says it's alive, it really is alive!  I wish more non-believers would just pick it up and read it like a book; like a novel even; a storybook.  Who knows what might happen to them if they did?  That narrow gate is just waiting for them to enter in!

In the meantime, look up, your redemption is drawing near (Lk21:28)!