Deceitful thinking Week 17, 2013

“If the Christian faith is evidence based why have so many not accepted it?” a friend asked me. This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil Jn 3:19(GW) .There is a love people have for sin and sinful pleasure. To accept there is a God in heaven who will judge all my deeds compels me to seek to obey him. But if I want to continue in disobedience I lull myself to believe there is no such thing. Critically examining the facts of the Christian faith compels a change in lifestyle. Those who have no wish for such a change reject the critical appraisal, and insist, “Don’t talk to me about Jesus!” Consider Governor Felix: He listened to Paul talk about believing in Christ Jesus. But Felix became afraid when Paul spoke about things like doing right, self-control, and the judgment that will come in the future. He said, "Go away now. When I have more time, I will call for you."Act 24:24, 25(ERV).  Do you find yourself uncomfortable when Jesus, holiness and judgement is discussed? Ever wondered why? Felix loved bribes Act 24:26.

You may say, “I hate bribery, but I don’t believe Jesus”. It is not limited to bribery. People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. So God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking. And so they do what they should not do.  They are filled with every kind of sin, evil, greed, and hatred Rom 1:28, 29(ERV). Whenever truth becomes intolerable to a person an alternate truth is sought. The mind that refuses to grasp truth now willingly accepts and promotes error. You cannot accept consensual sexual union between unmarried people or between the same sex (married or not) as being acceptable, or desirable or correct and hold to Jesus. If you are not hungry for righteousness, how will you seek the bread of life? If you are not weary of sin, how can you cling to holiness?  Am I communicating?

Consider this response to evidence. The soldiers brought first hand evidence of the resurrection to the rulers. At the same time, some of the soldiers who were guarding the tomb went into the city. They went to tell the leading priests everything that happened Matt 28:11(ERV). They did not doubt the truth of what the soldiers told them. They were not disciples, and they resorted to cover up. "Say that Jesus' disciples came at night and stole him while you were sleeping. If this is reported to the governor, we'll personally persuade him to keep you out of trouble."Matt 28:13(ISV).  My friend has chosen his own truth. Will you choose yours or Jesus the Truth?