In the natural, water, wind, ice and waves cause erosion.
Erosion wears away at the surface of the earth. Spiritual erosion wears away at truth.
It wears away the very shape of Christianity.
How can Christians fall into such a deception? The answer is simple – by not being serious students of the Word of God. Scripture says: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
The people from Berea were sincere students of the Word, wanting to accept only truth.
The Book of Acts tells us, “And the people of Berea were more openminded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message.
They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth” (Acts 17:11).
People are hungry for answers to life and they are looking to supernatural means. Distorted offers that look like truth are everywhere. Such practices are not new, for they are clearly listed in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
God’s Word gives clear warning throughout the entire Bible.
“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.
For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering.
And do not let your people practice fortunetelling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord “(Deuteronomy 18:9-12). Reincarnation, as another example, is becoming more and more popular. Many Christians are now considering this lie! Yet, Scripture makes truth very clear.
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
A careful study of the book of Colossians will answer any seekers’ questions about who Jesus really is.
Studying the Gospel of John helps us understand Jesus and the beautiful relationship available to anyone with a sincere desire to know God personally. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:15-17). All false teachers attempt to displace Jesus – putting Him in a lower position. He did not have to “climb the ladder” to become one of the socalled Ascended Masters, and he is not just a great prophet.
He is God as well as man, the second person of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1,2).
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:19, 20).
Jesus is the sovereign and sufficient Potentate.
Jesus Christ is not only the Creator of the entire universe, but He is the Sustainer (1:17) of it as well.
The false teachers at Colossae attempted to destroy the main doctrines of Christianity, including the deity of Jesus, and His absolute lordship and His sufficiency.
The first two chapters in Colossians defend the truth, but Christians, be wise! Do not allow Satan to delude your mind with so called “higher enlightenment.”
Stay close to the Word of God, and in close fellowship with believers.
Find a Pastor who teachers what the Bible says. Be a student of the Word, making certain that you know the Word of God well enough to spot deception.
Set others free from false doctrine.
Do not be afraid to share and teach truth. So many people are seeking God during these serious times in which we live. This is a time for each one of us to lay our timidity aside and disciple the lost.
We can’t bring them into the Kingdom of God without being willing to show them the way. Jesus is the unique way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). If you would fight erosion – in yourself and in others – encourage the deep rooting of the Word of God.
Patricia Martin leads God’s Precious Jewels, a ministry to Native American children based in Tehama County. She also leads Jehovah Rapha, a Tehama ministry of healing and support for those battling and surviving cancer.
