-Examine yourself against these biblical truths-
WE LIVE IN A WORLD filled with stress, change, demands, and just plain busyness. It is now the age of microchips and modems, a time when people strive to be computer literate and progressive. Life indeed has become complex these days.
In such a situation, it is important for us to know how we can live peacefully while serving God amidst the many dangers surrounding us, because Satan will use every opportunity and offer the unexpecting various panacea to our problems and questions in life. One who is naïve enough to accept any of these so-called “cure-all” beliefs endangers his right to salvation.
To safeguard our hope for salvation in the midst of a troubled world, the Bible teaches us whom we must trust and count on in this life.
God alone
Who alone can help us solve the complex problems of living? In whom can we fully trust to bring us to eternal bliss? King David answers, thus:
“I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter. Trust in God at all times, my people. Tell him all your troubles, for he is our refuge.” (Ps. 62:5-8, Today’s English Version)
God is our Defender, Protector, Shelter, and Refuge. We can trust Him at all times. No wonder then that David declares: “I depend on God alone.” This should also be our guiding principle in life. In God alone should Christians hope and trust.
Many have departed from this principle and have replaced it with the different beliefs that people had come to espouse through the passage of time. With this tendency of man, God cautions His people: “Do not follow the ways of other nations; do not be disturbed by unusual sights in the sky, even though other nations are terrified.” (Jer. 10:2, Ibid.).
Magic spells and astrology
What is referred to as “unusual sights in the sky” that disturb and terrify the nations of the world but should not affect God’s people? Prophet Isaiah answers:
“Keep all your magic spells and charms; you have used them since you were young. Perhaps they will be of some help to you; perhaps you can frighten your enemies. You are powerless in spite of the advice you get. Let your astrologers come forward and save you—those people who study the stars, who map out the zones of the heavens and tell you from month to month what is going to happen to you. ‘They will be like bits of straw, and a fire will burn them up! They will not even be able to save themselves’.” (Isa. 47:12-14, Ibid.)
It is interesting to note that many people today consult astrology, magic spells, horoscopes, tarot cards, palmistry, feng shui, and crystal balls for guidance and answers to life’s questions.
Truly, people have sought out advisors by the tons to tell them what the future holds. But these fortune-tellers are as useless as dried grass burning in the fire. Man should neither be frightened nor be influenced by their predictions, for they are all a pack of lies. They cannot even deliver themselves from God’s fire! The sin of believing in fortune-tellers and horoscopes should not be taken for granted because the Bible says that “a fire will burn them up” on the day of Judgment (Isa. 47:14, Ibid.).
Like scarecrows
Man must be extremely careful in choosing his religion. Jeremiah the prophet states:
“The religion of these people is worthless. A tree is cut down in the forest; it is carved by the tools of the woodworker and decorated with silver and gold. It is fastened down with nails to keep it from falling over. Such idols are like scarecrows in a field of melons; they cannot speak; they have to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them: they can cause you no harm, and they can do you no good.” (Jer. 10:3-5, Ibid.)
The ways of the religions which worship graven images and idols are futile and foolish. Even if, as some might claim, the image or idols are futile and foolish. Even if, as some might claim, the image or idol they worship performs miracles, Apostle Paul warns us not to be deceived because:
“The Wicked One will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders, and use all kinds of miracles and wonders, and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved. And so, God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false.” (II Thess. 2:9-11, Ibid)
There indeed are people who will come as satan’s tools performing all kinds of false miracles and wonders. They will deceive those who refuse to believe the truth, the result is that they will be condemned to eternal fire.
In violence and vices
Some are lulled into committing the error of diverting their hope and trust in God to other things that would also endanger their salvation. King David explains:
“Don’t put your trust in violence; don’t hope to gain anything by robbery; even if your riches increase, don’t depend on them.” (Ps. 62:10, Ibid.)
To gain material riches, some resort to violence. But man should not try to become rich by extortion, hold-ups, or other forms of robbery. Poverty is not an excuse to resort to wicked means. One who does evil “will have evil as his reward” (Job 15:31, Ibid.). What is more painful is the fact that a more terrifying end awaits them on the day of Judgment.
In what vices do other people erroneously indulge themselves when they have problems? The Bible states:
“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine.” (Prov. 23:29-30, New King James Version)
Supposedly to drown the pain they feel or to forget their anguish and sorrow, some people resort to drinking alcoholic beverages while others take prohibited drugs. Those under the influence of such hallucinate and suffer from delirium tremens. Momentarily, they will not feel the pain of their troubles, but when the effect of alcohol or of being “high” on drugs dissipates, the former painful feeling returns. The Bible says thus:
“You will see hallucinations and have delirium tremens, and you will say foolish, silly things that would embarrass you no end when sober. You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. And afterwards you will say, ‘I didn’t even know it when they beat me up…. Let’s go and have another drink!’” (Prov. 23:33-35, Living Bible)
Statistics show that a large percentage of crimes committed today can be attributed to the influence of prohibited drugs. Alcohol and drugs make a man dull, irrational, and careless, making him more vulnerable to commit crime. The Bible is right in declaring that in the end, “it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper” (Prov. 23:32, New International Version)
Money and wisdom
There is another danger to man’s faith and hope in God which others fail to realize, thinking that there is nothing wrong about it. Proverbs 11:28 proclaims:
“Those who depend on their wealth will fall like the leaves of autumn, but the righteous will prosper like the leaves of summer.” (TEV)
Although man needs money to sustain his needs, problems arise when one turns greedy—his life being dominated by the love of money and the desire to become affluent and powerful. He feels terrified with the thought of losing money as if without money, there is little purpose in living. Hence, he focuses on worldly riches while neglecting his duties and responsibilities to God. No doubt the Scriptures warn that “the love of money is the root of all evil” (I Tim. 6:10, King James Version).
Many people are enticed to resort to “shortcuts” like gambling to gain riches.
But gambling, in its various forms such as state lotteries, card games, jai-alai, and sports book-making, whether legalized or not, is wrong before God and is a sinful activity that corrupts man. Compulsive gambling could even lead to heavy debt, loss of work and belongings, family problems, and stress.
What is another potential threat to the attainment of salvation? Prophet Isaiah answers:
“You felt sure of yourself in your evil; you thought that no one can see you. Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray, and you said to yourself, ‘I am God—there is no one else like me’ Disaster will come upon you, and none of your magic can stop it. Ruin will come to you suddenly—ruin you never dreamed of!” (Isa. 47:10-11, TEV)
It is lamentable that the wisdom and the knowledge acquired by many through years of study and research have caused them to turn away from God.
The throne of Grace
God knows we need help in our earthly sojourn. Hence, He made known His commands, decrees, and laws to lead us to the pathways of happiness, contentment, and eternal life. He made the Lord Jesus Christ our Throne of Grace whom we may approach in times of need. Apostle Paul tells us:
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:14-16, NKJV)
Jesus had endured against the same temptations people experience. He never gave in and never sinned before God. And since God knows that none will succeed by himself, He has not left us to stand alone. He placed Jesus there to help and mediate for us.
We can be assured that God will answer our prayers if we remain faithful and sincere to Him and lead a clean life. Thus, we should live in righteousness, casting away all kinds of wickedness (Heb. 10:22-23).
What then can we expect from God, especially if we make Him our refuge? King David explains:
“You have made the LORD your defender, the Most High your protector, and so no disaster will strike you, no violence will come near your home.
“God says, ‘I will save those who love me and protect those who acknowledge me as LORD. When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them. I will reward them with long life; I will save them’.” (Ps 91:9-10, 14-16, TEV)
Amid an environment that is superficially religious, we ought to live a true Christian life to ensure that God will be on our side. We should trust solely in Him.
About the author:
Served as the Secretary for Foreign Mission from July 1993 to July 1998.
He served as Editor-in-Chief, 2009-2013
Published in God’s Message, February 2000
