"...there is one God, the Father,
of whom are all things, and we for him,
and one Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things,
and through whom we live."
1st Corinthians 8:6
There is only one God...
Allah is not God. Buddha is not God. Their writings are not from God. They did not come to die for us, and for salvation they demand that one be "good" and do good works.
We are NOT good, we are sinners. The message of Jesus Christ is not that we have to do works to accomplish salvation. The message is that Jesus Christ gave his life for the salvation of sinners who would believe in him. He hung on that cross bearing the judgment on our sins in our place. Salvation comes by faith in him, the acknowledgment of ourselves as sinners, and receiving for ourselves the atonement he accomplished for all who will receive it.
There is no other way.
"Jesus said to him,
'I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father EXCEPT through me.'"
John 14:6
That there is only one way is the "offense of the Gospel," especially in this day of "tolerance" and "ecumenism." We must never surrender the truth for the deceit of "tolerance." Jesus Christ is the ONLY way of salvation, and those who reject that - will not be saved.
"Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is NO OTHER name under heaven
given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
Think of it. If all paths lead to God, then the horrific torture and death of Jesus Christ would have been unnecessary. Why would God put his Son through that if there were any other way?
Satan goes to great lengths to discredit Jesus Christ in any way he can. He offers many alternatives. He is the author of all the religions that replace Jesus with some other way. Satan's one great characteristic is that he is a liar.
Speaking of Satan, Jesus said:
"He was a murderer from the beginning,
and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources,
for he is a liar and the father of it."
John 8:44
If you are following any other way, any other religion, you are following a religion brought about by the lies of Satan. Leave it. At any cost. Leave the "good" you've been trying to do so that God will receive you - and receive the free GIFT of salvation Jesus paid such a horrific price to accomplish for you.
Do not wait until you feel good enough to turn to him - that will never happen, you will never be good enough. That's not what he requires. He requires that you acknowledge the very opposite, that you acknowledge that you are NOT good enough, that you are a sinner, and that you receive for yourself personally the atonement he accomplished for you, and that you receive him as the Lord of your life.
Surrender your life to Jesus Christ. He brings salvation, he brings healing, he brings deliverance and you will never be the same.
MORE:
Who Is Jesus Christ?
"Now on the day that the Tabernacle was raised up,
the cloud covered the Tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony;
from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle
like the appearance of fire."
Numbers 9:15
While the Jews were wandering in the wilderness, they were led by the Lord and did not move until he indicated. There was a cloud over the Tabernacle by day, and fire by night. The cloud and the fire were the assurance that God was with them, and it was the way the Lord led them.
vs 17:
"Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the Tabernacle,
after that the children of Israel would journey;
and in the place where the cloud settled,
there the children of Israel would pitch their tents."
As sojourners through this life, it's absolutely crucial that we be at the right place at the right time. If the plan of God is that my path will cross another's at a certain time and in a certain place, that means I MUST be there at that time and in that place. If I'm left to myself, I'll go where I desire to go, and move when it's most convenient for me. But it must not be so for anyone who has surrendered his/her life to the Lord. All we do and when we do it, it must be at his will and not ours.
vs 19:
"Even when the cloud continued long,
many days above the Tabernacle,
the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord
and did not journey."
Sometimes it may seem that we're stuck in a certain time or place and we fear that this will go on forever. Well ...if you're surrendered to the Lord, what does it matter? He has a purpose for you being where you are. Your life must cross someone else's, that you might minister to them - or someone there might minister to you. Until the Lord indicates otherwise, stay where you are. When his purpose there is fulfilled, he will move you.
vs 21:
"So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning,
when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey;
WHETHER BY DAY OR BY NIGHT,
whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey."
Sometimes a move takes a lot of planning. Other times the Lord might move you suddenly. I was visiting with someone one day, and very suddenly the Lord spoke to my heart to go to a certain person's house. I excused myself and went to the house. In the course of the conversation with the person there, I found out that she was facing death without the Lord. It was a total shock to me because she was such a good and wonderful person, I just assumed she was a believer - but she told me she had resisted God for many years and now was facing death in fear. I was able to bring her to the Lord that day, and she died in the faith. That was a sudden and unexpected move at an inconvenient time (I was visiting someone else at the time) but it resulted in a person being saved. Had I been embarrassed to tell the person I originally was visiting that I had to go - NOW - it never would have happened - with eternal consequences.
vs 22:
"Whether it was two days, a month, or a year
that the cloud remained above the Tabernacle,
the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey;
but when it was taken up, they would journey."
The "cloud" that believers in Jesus Christ follow is the Holy Spirit of God. When we are totally surrendered to him, he may move us suddenly, or he may leave us in one place for days, weeks, months, years. The important thing is that we affirm our willingness to follow him - no matter what. For those who do so, their lives will be an adventure because the Holy Spirit is leading them with PURPOSE. Who would ever want it to be any other way?
"God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble;
therefore we will not fear,
even though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea;"
Psalm 46:1-2
Very frightening times are coming upon the earth. The events preparing the way for Satan's last hour and the revelation of his Antichrist are evident all around us. As we look at the things coming upon the world, violence, the New World Order agenda intending to bring the whole world under their control, the release of demons from portals at CERN, the savagery which almost stops the heart as we view it, how can one not fear? Indeed, Scriptures tell us that men's hearts will FAIL THEM them because of the fear:
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars,
and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity,
the sea and the waves roaring;
MEN'S HEARTS FAILING THEM FROM FEAR
and the looking after those things which are coming on the earth..."
Luke 21:25-26
We do not fear BECAUSE "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
God is not going to leave us when we are plunged into dark times. No, he is going to be a very present help as we face what is coming upon the earth. These are not just words, this is a promise that no matter what trouble we come to, he will be a VERY PRESENT HELP in it.
There was a missionary whose family was being murdered. The children began to cry, but the father said to them, "Why do you cry? Tonight we will have supper with Jesus."
That's the attitude we must have when our lives are being threatened.
"...DO NOT FEAR those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul.
But rather fear him who is able to destroy
both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28
The Lord promises peace to his people, a peace that cannot be shaken when things are dark.
"Peace I leave with you, MY PEACE I give to you,
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27
It's not an ordinary peace, it's a supernatural peace that we are promised if we focus on HIM.
Because God's Word cannot fail, therefore we do not look with fear at the terrible things to come, because he has promised that not only will he be with us in it, but that he will give us HIS supernatural peace. It will come when we need it. Therefore do not think on those things at all, but think on the promise of his peace, the peace that goes beyond all understanding.
"...and the peace of God, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
The horror you're imagining as you consider what may come - don't even go there. Instead, think on the promises that God has given us, the assurance that no matter what, he is very presently there with us. If you think on this rather on what "could" happen, if you meditate on God's promises and assurances INSTEAD, you will know the peace of God.
"You will keep him in perfect peace,
WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."
Isaiah 26:3-4
"Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Our hearts will NOT fail us from fear, because the peace of God will surround us - no matter what.