We were awaked around 7:30am last Sunday but despite the limited time we have, we still lingered on the comfort of our bed trying to wake up the kids (again running late...why is our morning always packed with such unnecessary stuff?). Since time restricted us to prepare much of ourselves, we divided the chores. I prepared the foods while Reuel bathed the kids. Afterwards, we hastily ate our breakfast and we take turn on bathing ourselves. Alas! We finish around 10am, too late for the Sunday Gospel Time (SGT). Then, we just decided to attend the afternoon service because it was also raining during that time.
So what I would like to share with you is the SGT the week before last Sunday, which was all about our mission pastor’s beliefs before he got to know the scriptures -- the Bible. You might find connections with his beliefs as I do. I may not be accurate in details on how Pastor Bong had preached this because it has been 2 weeks after I have the time to write this, so I trust the Holy Spirit for this writings.
Before moving on, let me express what I have pondered as I realized that we have the same views before we got save and maybe these are also your views or beliefs in life. I have thought that most of us are blinded by the things which we feel right. We also tend to believe on something we really do not have much understanding just to conform on the bandwagon. Therefore, I conclude that we’re living through the same experience. And to clarify things, let us read the bible about these:
Matthew 22:29-30 (KJV):
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
In the verse above, it confirmed my realization that we’re subjected to the same mistakes until we know the scriptures. Due to that fact, the scripture serves our guide to our way to eternal life as it is written in the bible:
Psalms 119:105 (KJV):
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Man is often misled and he clings to false hopes. He believes that salvation is a reward that is earned by merit. Because of this, man resorts to religion, riches, good works, philosophy and the like. The bible however, teaches that all these do not contribute to man’s salvation. The scripture also helps us remove the blindfold that covers our eyes from the eternal verities. We were blindfolded by Satan and driven away from God but through Christ we were set free from being blindfolded as it was written in the book of 2 Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV):
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
Here are the wrong beliefs of Pastor Bong before he encountered, read, and knew the scriptures:
1. I thought Religion is the way to God
According to him, he believed then that the different viewpoints of different religion are the different ways to God. Little did he know that there is only one way to salvation and that is through Jesus Christ. This was also my point of view before -- to belong to a religion and do some charity works to other people. I even dreamed of entering to a monastery after graduating in high school (I studied in a Catholic school) and I thank God for not allowing me to do that. Please read the verses below for in dept understanding:
Proverbs 14:12 (KJV):
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Acts 4:12 (KJV):
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Matthew 1:21 (KJV):
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Many of us thought that belonging to a certain religion can save us from eternal damnation so we join religion that appears interesting to us. Those religions that do not demand so much of our time and resources are the most appealing to us because it means we can stay at our home unruffled.
I remember what Reuel has told me about his discussions with his former officemate. The guy was a Christian before but now he’s agnostic -- being unsure whether God exists or not. He had this illustration where there are ten blind people and an elephant. These ten people encircle the elephant and he says that the elephant represent as god for example. Then they were instructed to touch the elephant and were asked afterwards to describe the elephant based on what they have sensed. So what do you expect they would say? Of course, they have different perception of the elephant because they’ve touched the different parts of the animal. That former officemate of hubby correlate the ten blind people to the different religion which has a different standpoint about God. Thus, he concluded that all the religions are pointing only to one God though they have a different viewpoint. And because of confusion on which religion he needs to be belong, he just choose to be an agnostic. (Please click
here for further reference)
That scenario is exactly the reason why there are people who questioned whether God exists or not because they are looking for the best religion in town when in fact they should not be. What they should search for is only Christ Jesus as He is the only answer; He is the way, the truth and the life. Nothing goes wrong when we are in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. I thought I can’t be assured of heaven
The good works that we assume can save us is vain (nothing) as it cannot redeem us from eternal punishment in hell. Only believing in Christ Jesus can do so because by grace we are saved and that grace is the righteousness of God to man even though we do not deserve such grace. Let us read the following verses:
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV):
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 6:23 (KJV):
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Ezekiel 18:4 (KJV):
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Titus 3:5 (KJV):
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”
The bible said that salvation is God’s free gift to every sinner who will humbly repent of his sins and receive Jesus Christ as his personal Savior by faith. Jesus is our hope of eternal life! It is clearly stated that no amount of hard works could be able to save us. All we need to do is to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I feel sad when some people have a hard time accepting this fact as they would say that accepting Jesus Christ as their savior is so easy for them to be saved.
3. I thought riches are the reason of man’s happiness
As Pastor Bong said that those people who strive hard to be rich is just setting up themselves to sins as their love for the money is like piercing themselves to many anguish and afflictions in life. Money doesn’t give meaning to our lives and it is the most unstable and unreliable underpinnings in man’s life. In fact, its value depreciates over time so if our happiness depends on how much money do we have in our pocket then our life is a miserable one. If we still think that money is the answer to all, then let us take a look on the following verses below:
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (KJV):
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Proverbs 23:4-5 (KJV):
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”
Proverbs 27:24 (KJV):
“For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?”
And the following verses tell us that only God can give our security way beyond the riches and wealth in this world. Without God in our life, we cannot do anything even though we attain the highest education that one could have, we can still regard as an educated fool because we’re missing the fact that God is the truth and the life.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV):
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Psalms 4:7-8 (KJV):
“Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
4. I thought God is not concerned with what I do
If we think that God is not involved in our daily lives, then we’re wrong as it is God who sustains our lives. He is the one who protects us from life’s commotion. He even invites us to have a talk in the form of prayer just to tell us that He is with us always. Please refer to the following verses:
Acts 17:28 (KJV):
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”
Isaiah 1:18 (KJV):
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Jeremiah 33:2-3 (KJV):
“Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Thank you for taking time to read this writings. I hope that in my own little way, I have provided you a more spiritual understanding regarding the scriptures for you to be aware of some of our wrong beliefs in life. Not all we perceive seems right is right. Have a nice day to all of you!
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Thank you Ken for these!
