Seeing is not always believing

Quite a few years back the automobile industry began introducing an amazing new feature; a key ring that would automatically lock and unlock car doors by pushing a button. Prior to that everyone had to insert a key into the car door lock and manually unlock it. I bought one of the first cars with this feature and was standing outside of our office one day showing my new vehicle to some friends and employees. I had my key chain in my pocket and decided to play a trick on them. I told them that this car had a voice activated door lock and I could command it to unlock or lock. I asked the car, “Who do you love?” and then I answered, “Bob!” and the car door instantly unlocked itself. Unbeknownst to them of course I had pressed the unlock button that was stowed in my pocket. They all stepped back and o-o-o-h-ed and ah-h-h-ed and murmured among themselves as to this amazing technology. All of my friends were astounded. I repeated it several more times and internally had a great laugh over this and call me a “Meany” but I never did share with them about the key chain.

I have pulled a similar trick on several of my friends in the Florida Keys. We live in a house that is gated and visitors must enter a code. If they do not know the code they will call me. I tell them that the gate has dual entry requirements and that they must enter both a code on the keypad and shout a voice command into the speaker in order for it to open. I tell them that the code is 2-4-6-8 and then they must state clearly, “Who do I appreciate? BOB! BOB! BOB!”, and then press the pound sign. I tell them I will remain on the line in case they need help. Sure enough I hear them enter the code, shout the message into the speaker, and as soon as they enter the pound sign the gate opens. Of course there is no voice command necessary, but it is great fun listening to them tell me how much they appreciate me. It is too funny and I was amused to no end about this until my wife caught on to it and started telling my friends, who by the way were not all that amused

Most people are gullible to a degree and the Bible warns us about being gullible especially when it comes to false prophets, (those preaching false doctrines). These are the folks that either twist the truths in the Bible or simply make up something entirely from scratch. The Bible tells us that particularly as we head towards the end days, as I believe we are surely headed, many will be deceived by these preachers. When one considers that eternity is forever and that we will either spend eternity in heaven or hell, we must make doubly sure that what we believe is valid and based upon truth.

I believe the best way to discern the truth is to read the Bible for yourself. Don’t just take some charismatic preacher’s word that the Bible states something; read it for yourself and decide if you agree that the preacher understands what is written in the same manner that you interpret it. Of course that will be of no help if you do not believe that the Holy Bible is the unerring word of God. The solution to coming to this conclusion again lies in reading the Bible. The more you read it the more faith you will develop and the more you will understand its truths; the Holy Spirit will see to that! The Bible does not need to be defended by any of us. Logic alone tells us that the Bible has endured the test of time. It was written in ancient times and is still valid today and cannot be disproven by anyone including the most atheistic scientists, even as we prepare to send astronauts to Mars. The Bible is true, accurate, and according to God, “Living”.

Make it one of your goals to read it for yourself. Start in Romans and then go back and read the New Testament in its entirety. When finished read the Old Testament and keep right on steam rolling through the New Testament again and you will be far more knowledgeable about God’s message to all of mankind than most people on earth. (Unfortunate). The Bible refers to itself as being sharper than any two edged sword and actually tells us that it is the Spirit’s sword. A sharp sword can slice through to the heart and even the thickest of heads. (It cuts though mine.) Pick up a Bible today and get to reading it and enjoy

Eph. 6:17
And the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God.