Who has the truth? Who should we believe?

 The son of a slave woman became an orphan and never knew who his father was. He grew up hating their owner until he found out, from a «reliable source» that the owner had relations with his mother. Therefore he went to claim his rightful state. The owner denied the story, but told him, since he was thinking on the emancipation of the slaves, he could be a potential assistant on the business if he wanted, given his audacity. Nevertheless, instead of making a good deal with the owner, he killed him and under the shelter of the «reliable source», who was lying in order to get “a piece of the action” and/or a preferential position, he became the new owner. Not only did he keep the slaves as such and continue to subdue them, but he killed anyone who could discover the scheme including the «reliable source» since he was of no use to him, anymore. As the “New owner”, he raped a slave woman who gave him a son who later killed him too, to continue the tradition and so on. The «Owner» kept changing as long as the original LIE could be kept hidden in case of the appearance of any not known family member. Those slaves could never be free for the «new owners» always knew how to keep an alliance with the powerful law makers.

 We have to be certain of the choices we make regarding our lives in this world for whoever we believe in, and follow his line of thought, is whom we will share an eternity with. Some think this life is the only one and everything is concluded after it, as if we were bugs which are exterminated, and that is it. Reason for which people want to take advantage of the moment to enjoy ALL they can, justifying the means, not calculating the results which DO NOT excuse them, either.  If we are believers in God, we know that He has given us proof of what we must believe in order to be a part of HIS family. Those will be the ones to inherit EVERYTHING God determined man to have; which is what man turned down when he chose, on his free will, to try the lie of one that was under his ruling according to God’s assessment: the serpent. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our  image, according to Our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. (Genesis 1:26)

The serpent lied to the woman, and she lied to the man. And he did not rule by setting the condition to consult their Creator first, but followed the line of what the woman—under him—told him to do. He then excused himself with God by telling Him “The woman that You gave me fed me the fruit.” In other words: Who is to blame if you gave me something imperfect?  Isn’t it always our excuse for everything? And, that is the reason we have inherited the sinful life of our ancestors for which they were driven out of the garden, breaking up with the Creator. Nevertheless God has not forsaken us, ever, and leaves us clues to act correctly. He has given us His Scriptures which DO NOT say that we should honor a particular group or denomination. He did give us the free will and we failed Him. He gave us the intelligence and we are constantly failing because we are NOT using His source to find the truth. The Bible, which is The word of God, does not say anywhere, that a  MAN chosen by his equal or inferior would be the “Mediator” for the communication between men and God. Yet, it does say: For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (I Timothy 2:5)  Yet, man is still choosing his “equal” or even less, to praise or kiss his hands or ring. This is NOT what the Scriptures says to do. Nor does it say, that we should kneel before images, on the contrary, it says God ordered: “You shall NOT make yourself an IDOL, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Deuteronomy 5:8-10)

Let’s not tell God: “That is the doctrine of the Church You gave us”; the religions are of men who are sinners; whether they are concealed under a convenient cassock or not. We should go to the truth and make amendments to our institutions to reach The Kingdom of Heaven. If it was due to us we would not be saved and would be disappearing like a plague of insects. The sinners are the ones who destroy the churches, the ones who do not follow God’s word; no matter how many titles nor human votes they may have. If they do not do what they preach, they ARE NOT of God. Jesus told the people who did not believe he came from God: You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in Him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

We should not blindly trust men, especially those who do not conform to the commandments in the Scriptures.  They simply want to take the seat of the Only One who never sinned and went to death for saying the truth.

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first; what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

(I Peter 4:17)

 

Are you an atheist?

Not so long ago I read an electronic message about a famous atheist who was converted to a Christian. A myriad of atheists and agnostics came out to disapprove of the man’s behavior, give excuses for it, blaming Christians.

There are atheists and agnostics. The definition, according to the Webster dictionary is:

Atheist: denies the existence of God.

Agnostic: not committed to believing in either the existence or non existence of God/gods.  God is unknowable.

I compare any of these two types to a person who was never told a story as a child. Do you remember the story of the Three Little Pigs?  What happened to the two brothers who built their homes of straw and sticks? They had to seek shelter in the home of the one who built with bricks. The Scriptures clearly says what Jesus said in His prominent sermon:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew (And the wolf puffed and puffed) and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). The rock is Jesus and the one who builds his home based on His teachings, is safe.

And what happened to Red Riding Hood? She was deceived by the wolf for not listening to the wise words of someone who knew best. So, everyone has a good lesson to follow. Many evil people know this, though, and conceal their lies with goodness to ensnare us.

I heard an erudite say that it was easier to be a believer than a skeptic. I believe so. The Scriptures say: The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands (Psalm 19:1). It is true. I see it in the phenomenon of creation: in the plants, fruits, flowers, the insects which make the delicious honey, the birds that build their nests, how everything is done on its time and rhythm, the wondrous beauty of the oceans. Have you seen their depth? What a view! When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than God, and you crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; you have put all things under his feet. (Psalm 8:3-6)  Nevertheless, we have chosen to ignore Him. Have you seen how perfect a baby is: his little hands with nails in his fingers, his little nose, mouth, everything? And, have you seen how he laughs when he gets to see and recognizes you when you talk to him/her? And how many criminals have destroyed them right before birth as if they were garbage. So will some day be done to them if they do not repent, now. Yet God is willing, if they are too, to forgive them and forget their trespasses for despite themselves, He loves them. And that’s His message to you, no matter what.

It is true that some “Christians” do not behave as they should. That’s why others have to say, like Mahatma Ghandi, who would have turned into a Christian if it had not been for the Christians themselves. Although we are NOT perfect now, but sinners, just like everyone else, and know that Jesus died to pay our price and cleanse us For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. (I Corinthians 13:9-10)

Any atheist, or agnostic who study the Holy Scriptures and ask for wisdom and discernment to Him, whom they do not know, will be better Christian that many who believe themselves “good”. Paul said it: Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall (I Corinthians 10:12) If someone was blind and sees, all of a sudden, is more appreciative, like the one whose debt is greater, and  the Lord forgives him has to love Him more. Jesus told one of the Pharisees: “. . . but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”(Luke 7:47b). Some “Christians” might not practice it, but take their religion as a “talisman.” Jesus himself had to deal with the religious people of his time who were like that too. Later, the first Christians were their victims. That is why James, Jesus’ brother said in his letter: If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. (James 1:26)

If you are an atheist or an agnostic, and have the blessing to be smart, you will find in The Scriptures plenty of facts that will make you feel the amazing reality in Jesus speeches. Actually, if they don’t, you must not be from this planet.