#2505 1119 17A

            Our life is presently going in one of two directions—either toward God and His Truth, or away from Him and His Truth. We should think about the doctrine we live by, and if it is pointing us in the right direction—because our doctrine will determine our destiny in the final analysis.

            It can seem that we are heading in a right direction, but the Word reminds us Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” It is not what seems to be right, but what the Word says is right. Jesus said John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Is our way in this life as He describes in the Gospels—is what we need to determine.

            Thoughtful questions usually give honest answers. Can we live any way we want and still get to Heaven; can we hold on to bitter feelings toward someone and still have access to God’s kingdom; can we depend on modern medicine and still be acceptable to God; can we keep retirement money in a bank and still have eternal life—all are vital questions that need truthful answers.

            The devil likes to have us create our own ideas about life and what is the right way to go—it feeds our pride and keeps us in charge. The Bible says there is “no new thing under the sun” Ecclesiastes 1:9—so all supposed new ideas are just old ideas from the same enemy, who loves to feed our pride and offer us anything that opposes God’s Word.

            The honest response to those questions would be—that all resentment is to be removed from our heart by God if we want to be eligible for His kingdom; our faith and dependence must be on the resurrection power of Christ when oppressed in body if we want to be accepted into Heaven; and our trust is to be on God’s faithfulness to supply our needs without laid-up money or retirement checks—if eternal life is our goal. 

            There are fables being taught and false prophets preaching everywhere today—we must be aware of them; be informed of them; be sure that we are not being deceived by them. The doctrine of election is a lie from the devil, because if we were not able to repent, confess, and forsake our sins—due to the fact that we were not elected for salvation, then we would have an excuse—but the truth is that we do not have any excuse.

            Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

            Because of God’s marvelous creation, no one will have any excuse on Judgment Day—no excuse why we did not seek to know God; to find out from His Word what He is willing to do for us; asking Him every day for spiritual light; accepting the gift of His Spirit to help us along the way, and then deciding to put our faith in His divine power, as we head toward His kingdom.

            Our all-loving God 1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God,” would be compelled to withhold grace from millions of people, if the doctrine of election were right. There are a multitude of false messages from a multitude of sources today. 

            From the beginning, God gave everyone a choice Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” We must choose the life of Christ, so we would be heading in the right direction. The life of Christ is a forgiving spirit; a trusting faith on God; and learning every day to love every person—just as He loved us.

            From the front to the back of the Bible, everyone had to make decisions and choices—and everyone today is still responsible for their choices. All people have the ability and the responsibility to choose God or not choose God; to follow the Lord or follow the world; to believe and be saved or rebel and be lost. Our choices determine our direction and our destination!

            Following a wrong doctrine; or thinking we are okay without any faith and trust on the resurrection power of Christ, is a serious issue, because it concerns the character of God and who He really is. It is not a secondary issue, but a primary one; it is not a side issue but the main factor. Knowing the true character of God and following the true Gospel plan of salvation, is vitally important.

            Accepting the doctrine of election would mean that some of our children will be saved and some may not—and there would be nothing we could do about it. In other words, if we train up a child in the way they should go, and we teach them the truth about God when they sit down, rise up, walk by the way, and lie down at night Deuteronomy 6:6-9—that that would have no effect on how they turn out, because they have already been elected or rejected by God—that is a wicked lie from the devil.

            Doctrine means instruction or teaching the right way to live a godly life. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” That involves a choice on their part to choose the right way—it has nothing to do with being elected, but all to do with making right choices as they were taught from childhood.

            A continual reading of the Bible every day, and by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to spot false doctrines that are everywhere. Titus 1:9 “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy [faithful] message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”

            Sound doctrine is absolutely vital and necessary, if eternal life is our goal. 2 John 1:9 “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” The doctrine of Christ is faithful trust on the Father for everything.

            Wrong doctrines have deceived far too many for far too long—we need awareness and the right information, so as not to be carried away by wrong preaching. Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

            We should want to know the Scriptures, so we can head in the right direction, to the only destination. If we know what Jesus said, we will not be deceived by what someone thinks. If we know what the Bible teaches, we will not be deceived by what someone preaches.

            The Sadducees believed that there is no resurrection—which would head them in the wrong direction to the worst fate imaginable. Jesus had to tell them Matthew 22:29 “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” They were in serious error because of not knowing the scriptures, and not knowing the power of God that brought His Son Jesus back to life.

            The Bible is not a buffet from which we can pick and choose what we want to believe, or what fits our thinking; and ignoring what we do not want to follow and does not fit our lifestyle. The pride in our heart always wants to follow our own way in life—but it can be going in the wrong direction, and leading to the wrong place.

            Jesus said that those on His left followed a wrong doctrine; and those on His right traveled in a right direction—leading to eternity in Heaven. Matthew 25:41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Those on His left showed no mercy, concern, or love for those who needed all three.

            Those on His left wanted to know why their fate was so dreadful—it was because they did not have the love of God in their heart, so they showed none to anyone else. Matthew 25:45 “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous”—who had the love of God in their heart, and wanted to help those who needed help—“into life eternal.”

            God says that if a false prophet says Deuteronomy 13:2 “Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

            The right plan that leads to the right home is Deuteronomy 13:4 “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.” If the teaching or preaching is not the truth of the Bible, we should distance ourselves from that as quickly as possible.

            Today is not the day to water down any spiritual message on faith and trust—it is not the time for the church to be relevant—as some say today—but it is time for biblical messages and giving God’s full Truth—nothing less and nothing added. Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

            There is one direction in which to be heading; and one eternity we must be assured of receiving. Jesus said to some Jewish believers John 8:31 “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”—free from sinful ways and wrong attitudes—and heading in the right direction to eternity!