The most destructive counterfeit of all is experienced when we turn away, even in part, from the Truth of God in the Bible and give ourselves over to a different philosophy of life in any area, whether it is a personal belief that we invent in our own minds, or any one of the organized religions or philosophies that the world offers, or any combination that does not accept the full Truth of Jesus Christ as detailed in the Bible.
This destructive counterfeit can be very subtle, and it has replaced the pure Truth of God in many religious institutions, as Jesus warned.
“You have stopped following the commands of God. Now you only follow the teachings of men.” Then Jesus said to them: “You think you are clever! You ignore the commands of God so that you can follow your own teachings! … So you are teaching that it is not important to do what God said. You think that it is more important to follow your own rules, which you teach people. And you do many things like that.”—Mark 7:8-13 (ICB)
God warns us that if we turn away from the light of His Truth that is detailed in the Bible, we will walk through life in darkness.
Any person who influences someone else to believe a philosophy other than God’s Truth in the Bible is not only walking in darkness themselves but is also leading other people into deep darkness.
“You [spiritually] blind guides, who strain out a gnat [consuming yourselves with minuscule matters] and swallow a camel [ignoring and violating God’s precepts]!”—Matthew 23:24 (AMP)
“Jesus also gave them another example. He asked, ‘Can a blind person lead another blind person? Won’t they both fall into a pit?’”—Luke 6:39 (NIRV)
Any deviation from the Truth of God that is given to us in the Bible will lead us out of the path of Light and into darkness and spiritual blindness. It is important for us to take *all *of the Bible, just as it is. God warned us not to change even a single word.
“Now as to everything I’m commanding you, you must be careful to observe it. Don’t add to or subtract from it.”—Deuteronomy 12:32 (ISV)
**“**You must not add to what I command you. And you must not take anything away. You must obey the commands of the Lord your God that I have given you.”—Deuteronomy 4:2 (ERV)
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to these words, God will give him the troubles written about in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and of the holy city, which are written about in this book.”—Revelation 22:18-19 (ICB)
“So don’t try to change what God says. If you do, he will punish you and prove that you are a liar.”—Proverbs 30:6 (ERV)
There is Only One Truth!
In the midst of great darkness, light shined when Jesus came.
“I am THE way, THE truth and THE life,” He tells us in John 14:6.
Truth comes from only one source, and that is God. His truth has been written and given to us in the Bible. The Bible describes the *only *way to live in harmony with God and to avoid destructive consequences. The Bible—and only the Bible—describes non-optional principles of life that must be followed in order to experience the life without destructive consequences that Jesus calls “the abundant life” in John 10:10.
That is why Jesus, who is the embodiment of the Word of God, declared that He is “THE way, THE truth and THE life.” There are no other valid ways of life. There are only varying degrees of rebellion against the Truth that will result in unnecessary conflicts and destructive consequences.
There are whole cultures that teach and believe systems of philosophy that are contradictory to the Truth that is detailed in the instructions given to us in the Bible, but whether these cultures espouse Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or any other philosophy of life, people who follow these philosophies are walking in darkness.
This is not just an opinion. This is clearly evident. Clear and unavoidable conflicts will arise in the lives of people who espouse these philosophies that prove every day that they are violating unalterable principles of life. In their lives they will have habits that they cannot conquer and problems that they cannot solve.
“Be careful! Do not lose the reward that you have worked for. Be careful, so that you will receive your full reward. A person must continue to follow only the teaching of Christ. If he goes beyond Christ’s teaching, then he does not have God. But if he continues following the teaching of Christ, then he has both the Father and the Son.”—2 John 8-9 (ICB)
“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine and teaching which is in agreement with godliness (personal integrity, upright behavior), he is conceited and woefully ignorant [understanding nothing]. He has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, which produces envy, quarrels, verbal abuse, evil suspicions, and perpetual friction between men who are corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, who think that godliness is a source of profit [a lucrative, money-making business—withdraw from them].”—1 Timothy 6:3-5 (AMP)
“Don’t be misled by the many strange teachings out there.”—Hebrews 13:9 (CEB)
Are You God’s Child?
God sends signals to all of His children. His signals often are intended to correct us, get us back on the best path for our lives, and avoid destructive consequences.
“Happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves; so do not despise or reject the correction of the Almighty [subjecting you to trial and suffering].”—Job 5:17 (AMPC)
“My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.”— Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT)
In fact, this is one way that you can know if you are God’s child or not. Are you receiving corrective signals from God? If not, then you are not a child of God.
“And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
“As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? **If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. **Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
“For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.** **No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.”—Hebrews 12:5-13 (NLT)
Do you feel that you have no guidance in life? Do you feel that you are being allowed to go through life without the loving hand of God actively correcting you and guiding you?
You can change that! It is your choice! Cry out to God! Earnestly plead for His Spirit of Truth to come into your life and to guide you.
“Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me.”—Psalm 43:3 (NLT)
“Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—because you are the God who saves me. I put my hope in you all day long.”—Psalm 25:5 (CEB)
If you are sincere when you ask, God will hear your cry. He will answer you. And when God’s Spirit of Truth comes into your life, He will guide you into all truth, as He promised.
“But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].”—John 16:13 (AMPC)
To find God, you must seek Him with all of your heart. When you sincerely search for God with all of your heart, you will find Him.
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.** **I will be found by you, says the Lord “—Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NKJV)
“Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.”—Hebrews 11:6 (ERV)
If you pursue God with all of your heart, you will find Him. The Almighty God of the Universe can be your constant guide and companion in life. He is the only Truth. He alone holds the secrets of your life. You will not find life in any other pursuit.
“Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope].’”—John 6:68 (AMP)