Family Tradition

Someone recently told me that his friend believed in God but not in satan. As I thought about this I asked myself, “Now how do you suppose this person came to believe that God exists but not satan”?

Hmmm Maybe his mom and dad believed that notion. Where did they get it? Perhaps their moms and dads and their moms and dads believed that way on down through the centuries and it was passed down from generation to generation and it was natural for him to believe the same way as the rest of his family.

If it’s not just a family tradition, perhaps someone that he greatly respects told him that, and now he believes it too? Or maybe he just deduced it using his own logic?

On the other hand if someone believes that God and satan do both exist, upon what basis did they come to that conclusion? Do they believe whatever they believe because of family, friends, human logic, or perhaps a combination of all of the foregoing?

I base my entire belief system upon the Bible. It has withstood the test of truth from ancient time right up through today. I sincerely believe that it is God’s only communiqu to mankind. God is Spirit and but for a few rare exceptions has been non-verbal throughout recorded history. He has chosen to communicate with us via his word the Holy Bible which was transcribed for Him by prophets that He chose. He is an all-powerful God and I do not believe He would have allowed them to change one word. My entire belief system is based upon my belief in the Bible. If the Bible is wrong then I have been duped.

Through His word He has told us that Christians derive their nourishment from hearing God’s word and that is how we grow. Matthew 4:4: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

It also tells us that we should desire to hear the word of God with the same fervor that a newborn baby desires milk.
1 Peter 2:2:
“As newborn babes,
desire the pure milk of the word,
that you may grow thereby”.

I don’t know about your grandkids, but mine scream and howl like monkeys until they get their milk. God says we should desire to hear His word in the same manner.

We can hear the word of God through family, friends, clergy, study groups, etc., but realizing that our eternal destination and ability to succeed in whatever remains of this life is utterly dependent upon our relationship with God, it makes sense to me to read it for myself first, and then supplement my knowledge of the Bible via all those other methods. God tells us that the Bible is alive and I know first-hand that He will open it to our understanding the more we study it, because it happens to me daily. Hebrews 4:12 “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit”


This upcoming New Year why not commit yourself to your own independent Bible study. Have you ever read it in its entirety? Why not read the New Testament and then tackle the Old in 2010? I sincerely believe that there is nothing more important that you will ever accomplish in this lifetime.

One thing the Bible tells us is that when we die we’ll face God at the judgment alone. Mom and dad will not be there, neither will friends nor foes or others who might have influenced our belief system. Jesus Christ will be there and we will observe His nail scarred hands, feet, and His brow that once held a crown of thorns. He will have suffered greatly for us and all things open or hidden that have been done in our lifetimes will be revealed. Wouldn’t it be nice during your life review to see yourself studying the Bible every day of your life.

1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,
“All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
5but the word of the Lord stands forever.”