If my memory recalls things properly for when I was a few years younger; I would be sitting in a classroom waiting for the instructions to be given to us to study for that day. Each and every teacher had a different way of presenting the subject matter that they were teaching; as well as what each teacher deemed to be necessary for us to learn. Each teacher had a different manner in presenting that subject, as well as the expectations of what they thought each student should comprehend or get out of it.
Even now as I reflect back at and on much of the subject matter that was taught back then, I see how much was based on what other men saw or thought we should know or learn. In many instances it was not according to the truth, or to what now have been found to be the factual accounts.
We were taught what other people believed, not always fact. We were taught lifestyles that they wanted us to imitate, not those which would be best for us spiritually. What we were taught was not always beneficial to us, but this is what the system wanted us to learn, as well as become. And so the more we seemed or appeared to grow in knowledge, the further we grew away from God, and the less we gave heed to, or followed that which the Bible asked of us.
Ironically, the same is very true today within the religious circles. They have put together their lesson plans and outlines, which they think or deem necessary or pertinent for your salvation. They want us to be imitators of men, rather then to be imitators of Christ. How has this happened? And most allow it to go on, as well as support it, both morally and financially. Can you tell me why? Most do not want to take a stand in and on the Word of God. This would mean that they would have to open their Bible (if they even have one, or much less know where it is) and begin to read the very facts of life from the only source that is free from man's errors. They would have to ask God to teach them by His Holy Spirit, so that it would be taught correctly. Most would rather bet their eternity on what some other person has to say, rather then getting the facts straight from the throne of God Almighty.
Romans 1:21-23, 21) So they have no excuse! Though they knew God, they have not glorified Him as God nor given thanks to Him; they have turned to futile speculations till their ignorant minds grew dark. 22) They claimed to be wise, but they have become fools; 23) They have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the semblance of the likeness of mortal man, of birds, of quadrupeds, and of reptiles. (Moffatt translation)
The more man thinks that he learns, the further it removes him, and separates him from God. Indeed, professing themselves to be wise, they instead have become fools.
Matt 24:37-39, But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (KJV)
Jesus Christ Himself warned us that the last days should be as the days of Noah were. We often times forget that Noah preached a message of God’s righteousness for over one hundred years. Did they listen to, or give heed to this fanatic who was telling them of God’s impending judgement upon the earth? No! They were to busy eating and drinking of the earthly dainties, rather the partaking of the bread of life. For them, life was good, what needed to be changed? For the rich and wealthy, the economy was booming. They were partaking of everything that was not beneficial to their spiritual well being. They were drinking from cesspools, rather then from the living waters.
They changed partners as fast as their lifestyles changed. Just as many do yet today. Life was all about status, and what the neighbors thought about you, just as it is today. They would grab onto every new idea and wind of doctrine that blew through their town or country, but totally ignore the very Creator. (Amos 3:3)
What would have been your thoughts of this man building this big ark in the middle of nowhere? Had it ever rained prior to this time? Did they even understand or comprehend what a flood was? After one hundred years of Noah preaching of God’s righteousness, there were but seven others that were listening. Is it any different today?
Hosea 4:6-8, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. (KJV)
We have accepted the world's viewpoints, and rejected God’s knowledge. (Col.2: 2-3). And because most have rejected Father’s terms for fellowship, He has no alternative but to reject those who refuse His terms. (John 3:16-18). Most have forgotten what God has asked of us. Most have a tendency to follow the crowd. They base that which they follow by the number of people, rather then upon God’s righteousness. Note that as they were increased, so they increased in sin against God.
Hosea 4:6-8 6) My people are dying for want of knowledge, and you reject my knowledge; so I will reject you from my priesthood. Since you ignore the instructions of your God, I will ignore your children. 7) The more they multiply, the more they sin, and change my glory for a shameful worship. 8) They batten on my people’s sin, they have an appetite for human guilt. (Moffatt translation).
If you would have followed the crowd in Noah’s day, where is it that you would have ended up? When the children of Israel left Egypt, how many of that generation made it to the Promised Land? Jesus Christ Himself asked, if He would still find faith when He returned.
No where in God’s Word does it tell us that we will be popular in doing that which Father asks of us. On the contrary, since most want a god they can see and worship in the flesh. Therefore they appease their sense and worship that which they can see, feel, or touch. They will seek out these types of teachers. They will gather to themselves the teachers that will speak the things that are pleasing to them, all the while ignoring the scriptures that clearly tell us that those that are in the flesh cannot please God! And if one is not able to please God, do you really think they will be welcomed into Father’s kingdom?
Amos 8:11-13, 11) The time is coming says the Lord Eternal, when I will send a famine on the land, no famine of bread, no drought of water, but of hearing the Word of the Eternal, 12) Till men go wandering from sea to sea, and run from the north to the east, in quest of the Eternal’s Word, and all in vain. 13) On that day they shall faint, fall, and never rise again, the maidens fair and the stalwart youths. (Moffatt translation)
Today, we see people running to and fro, from meeting to meeting hoping to find God. They are looking for quick thrills, or of feeling goose bumps to try to determine if they have felt the presence of God. How quickly forgetting, that they that worship Father, must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
They wander from sea to sea. This can be from water holes that have polluted waters. It can also be referring to the gathering of masses of people. They are wandering, without direction, and have not focused on the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Either description, will not give us the relationship with God, that one needs to obtain eternal life in Father’s kingdom.
They are going from the north to the east, a constant changing of directions. Many forget that it is a strait and narrow path that leads to Father’s house. They are following the footsteps of other people; rather then having their own feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. It is up to each individual to be prepared, to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Have we failed to hear the endless lessons that are given in the Word?
Jude in his short epistle gives a vivid warning that is much the same as that in Amos, but much more stern. He gives us a very vivid description of the apostasy that had entered the Church is so few years after the Lord’s departure from earth. Let us take a look at what a few of the verses from Jude say.
Jude 1:10-13, 10) But these people scoff at anything they do not understand; and whatever they do understand (like irrational animals) by mere instinct, that proves their ruin. 11) Woe to them! They go the road of Cain, rush into Balaam’s error for what it brings them, and perish in Korah’s rebellion. 12) These people are stains on your lovefeasts; they have no qualms about carousing in your midst, they look after none but themselves, rainless clouds, swept along by the wind, trees in the autumn without fruit, doubly dead and so uprooted, 13) wild waves foaming out their own shame, wandering stars for whom the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved eternally. (Moffatt translation)
We often times fail to see and hear the apostasy that had infiltrated the early Church so few years after the Lord Jesus Christ had left this earth. We fail to see and hear that far more are the children of the desolate, than they of the bride are. We fail to see or believe how brother and sister try to kill brother and sister. (How forcible are right words). Death and life are in the power of the tongue. And in this day many people try to kill others with the very words they speak. If we are not allowing the light of the glorious gospel of Christ to shine from us, then the only other thing that we can be doing, is producing death, and that makes us no better than Cain.
We do not want to see or hear how so many are using the gospel for personal gain. They will use whatever means necessary to build up their kingdoms and monuments to themselves, all of the while proclaiming, look at what we are doing for God. Maybe some Bibles are missing a few of the verses from Acts 17:24-25? Or others may be missing the verses from John where it tells us plainly, that they who worship Father, must worship Him in spirit (not just any spirit, but the Spirit of Christ, Rom 8:9) and in truth. His word is truth.
2 Pet 2:17-19, These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (KJV)
We do not like to admit that there are wolves among His sheep. Let alone admit the number of wolves that there really are. It says that they move freely amoung us. Yet most cannot spot them, because they have become dull of hearing the Word of God. And since they need to return to the milk of the Word instead of partaking of the meat of the Word, they have little if any discernment.
The Holy Spirit is supposed to be our teacher and our guide through God’s Word. Yet, how many rely on man instead? How many are as diligent as the Berean’s were, and study that which they hear, to be sure it all lines up with the Word of God? People have time to read all or most of the books that men write, but have little or no time for the Word of God.
The words that Jesus Christ spoke are indeed spirit and life. For He only spoke that which He heard Father speak and did only the things that He saw Father do. This can only happen for us, if we continue in the Word, and allow the Spirit of truth to open the eyes of our understanding to all of the deep things of God.
Jesus Christ plainly told us that it is given for us to know the mystery of the gospel. Without this insight, we will see but not perceive we will hear but have no understanding.
Paul tells us that we have to come to an understanding of the mystery of the gospel, which has been revealed to those that have ears to hear.
Col.1:25-27, 25) For I am a minister of the church by the divine commission which has been granted me in your interests, to make a full presentation of God’s message, 26) of that open secret which, though concealed from ages and generations of old, has now been disclosed to the saints of God. 27) It is His will that they should understand the glorious wealth which is secret holds for the Gentiles, in the fact of Christ’s presence amoung you as your hope of glory. (Moffatt translation).
Romans 10:16 "Lord, who has believed the Message they have heard from us?"> 17 And this proves that faith comes from a Message heard, and that the Message comes through its having been spoken by Christ. 18 But, I ask, have they not heard? Yes, indeed: <"To the whole world the preachers' voices have sounded forth, and their words to the remotest parts of the earth."> (Weymouth translation)
If one would take the time to sincerely seek God and His Word, He would reveal Himself to them. Just as Paul had his confrontation with God when traveling down the road, so each of us too at some point in our life has this same confrontation. It is then that we have to make that decision on whether we will choose to follow man and his ideas, or to choose to follow the strait and narrow path that leads to Father’s house.
If you seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him. As you continue in the Word to seek all that Father has for you, He will open His wisdom and knowledge to you. Yes, studying God’s Word will be weariness as well as quite tiresome to the flesh. Many times, we would much rather be doing other things, then studying the Word and listening to what Father has to say. However, the choice is yours! Who do you choose to learn from this day?
Have you learned from any of the lessons that Father has placed
within His book of life?
That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ.