Five Religious Myths Debunked

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1. If I live right, I will avoid suffering. If that were true, good people would not suffer, and we would recognize the evil in our world. Paul pleaded with God three times to take away his thorn in the flesh (how he referred to his pain). God didn’t take it away. He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This verse gives me more than hope through suffering; it encourages me that when I feel inadequate, God is strong. He picks me up when I get to the end of me and accomplishes more in me than I imagined.
2. My pain doesn’t compare to the suffering of others. That sounds like God doesn’t care about what you are going through. That is not true. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” (Joshua 1:5) and “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). These verses are my lifeline for whenever I go through troubling times.
3. Pain is the result of disobedience. Many people today do not pay attention to God’s ways so they unknowingly disobey Him or disregard Him on purpose. Not all of them suffer pain. They go on with their lives as if nothing is wrong. Health and wealth are not measures of obedience. They could be here today and gone tomorrow. The result of disobedience is sin, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Unchecked disobedience is separation from God.
4. There is always a silver lining. It seems like a fairy tale to believe our suffering leads to a silver lining. Perhaps that is a misunderstanding of, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Over the years I have seen how God uses even the difficult things in my life for His purposes. I have even grown thankful for the times I experienced loneliness and despair because they are what drove me to Jesus. Only in Jesus can we hope for a better ending.
5. God will love me if I am good. God loves the whole world so much He gave His only son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but experience salvation from the ways of the world (my paraphrase of John 3:16). “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Friend, if you have not experienced God’s amazing love, call on His name, the name of Jesus, and you will know His presence, His love. He has prepared a way for you – a way where there seemed to be no way. Rejoice!

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for Jesus your beloved Son. He is Faithful and True. Thank you for loving us and setting us free to experience abundant life, even today. Thank you that we don’t have to wait til we get to Heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Gates of Hell

The Gates of Hades

Set on the russet cliffs of Mt. Hermon is a rock-hewn cave in the area of Caesarea Philippi, located near Dan, a paradise of lush green woods and the head waters of the Jordan River. Mt. Hermon has been considered a holy place for thousands of years. Archaeologists have unearthed foundations of The Temple of Baal, the Temple of the Golden Calf, the Court of Pan, the Temple of Caesar Augustus, and the Temple of Zues in this place. This cave was considered “The Gates of Hades (Hell)” because it was the scene of human sacrifice where people, even children, were thrown and never seen again.

The apostles thought of the area of Caesarea Philippi as a very wicked place and didn’t want to go there, but Jesus chose the area of this cave to make a point. He said, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:13-18).

“What about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” The answer to that question is the most important decision you and I will ever make. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blessed him and said, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.” The rock He talked about was not the rock over over the cave, but the confession of faith Peter made–that Jesus is the Christ.

Today our gods are not Baal, the Golden Calf, Pan, Caesar Augustus or Zues. When Jesus said, “The gates of Hell will not overcome it,” the “gates” were physical defensive objects. Joshua was not afraid to breach the gates or the walls of Jericho (Joshua 1). Sampson tore down the gates of Gaza and carried them to the top of the hill that faced Hebron (Judges 16). So what do you believe our Gates of Hell are? Think about these things: The lie that truth is relative and not absolute. The lie that our feelings determine what is right or wrong. Our unquenchable thirst for self-fulfillment and power. These are defensive mechanisms. God’s people will proclaim the truth, that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), and more. Many say Christians are judgmental, and that when they speak the truth about sin, they are committing hate crimes. We live in a world of sin, but we are not of the world. A life of fulfillment and purpose is a life that pleases God, not man.

Situations and circumstances change but God does not. Will we be persecuted? Yes. Jesus said the world hated Him, and it will hate us. He also said He would be with us to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for using physical things to demonstrate spiritual truth. Help us to be on the offense and stand for truth. Thank you that you do not leave us alone, but that you are with us. Help us to live our lives pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A message for such a time as this