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The Way of God
What Are The Things, Cares and Ways Of The World? How do they differ from the Way of God?
All men and women are required to take care of themselves and their loved ones, to provide food, clothing and shelter. Here in North America we often need to provide heat and sometimes air~conditioning and transportation. We also need to import much food and clothing. Many other countries have special needs as well. And so the world has turned into a global market place.
It is mans way to always try to make things easier for himself so we invent all kinds of time savers and effort savers. In my mind this is all good. God, after all, created the world for us to use and grow with.
When we, as Bible students, talk about the ways of the world, these are not the things we are talking about. The ways of the world is basically paganism. Paganism is a system of beliefs and practices that is not from God. It includes things like establishing man made religions, setting your own standards of behavior while rejecting God^s and setting your hearts and minds on the things that God has created and not on God himself. These are things that need to be overcome.
Man gets involved in many things on this earth that God did not intend. For example setting your goals solely on making money and not on helping out your fellow man. The love of money is the root cause of much that is wrong with this world. Very often people who are the heads of governments, institutions and businesses are the worst offenders and consequently much of the world is in a state of financial disaster. We might even say that generally speaking man^s ways or the world^s ways are evil.
Another thing that is very common is the law of good intentions. This man made law states that what is most important is that a person have good intentions. What he or she does and the consequences of his or her actions are thereby completely excusable. The builders of the Titanic had good intentions. They wanted to build an unsinkable and fast ocean liner. They failed. The vessel sank on its maiden voyage. Most on board died. It was a tragedy of epic proportion caused by arrogant pride. The people involved in the design and construction of this vessel did not see the evil in their ways. They failed to see their own faults and failed to consider the basic forces of nature. They even tried to taunt God by claiming that the Titanic was unsinkable but they made fools of themselves. And now they carry the burden of the premature death of many people on their shoulders and to the day of judgment.
There are many smaller examples of disasters going on in all walks of life often caused by similar arrogant pride, divorces for example. Arrogance and pride are things to guard against, they are condemned in the Bible. We should strive for Godly works rather than good intentions. Don^t let the ideal of good intentions blind you from what needs to be done.
The way of God, the creator of this earthly life sustaining system, includes rules, regulations, checks and balances. We have laws of physics, chemistry and biology. We have social laws, ethical rules and proper grammar. All of these are good and all good is from God. God has also provided the Bible, which was inspired by Him, which is a guide for life that leads to eternal life with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ in Their kingdom. This book reveals true religion as required by God if we intend to please Him and to find favour with Him. This religion includes statutes and ordinances, commandments, laws and Holy Days to observe. It details the way of God and to God.
There is a way that seems right to a man but its ways lead to death. There is only one way that leads to eternal life and that is the way of the Bible, that is the way of God the Father and of Jesus Christ His Son. This way is learning the ways of God and living by them. This is an ongoing and life long struggle. The ones with the least excuse are those who have access to the Bible and to disciples of Jesus Christ. Many are called but few are chosen. Those who take His calling to heart will be saved.
Jesus told us that even He could do nothing without God the Father. How many people realize that they are completely at God^s mercy at all times. God allows a great deal to go on in this world but that does not mean that any way leads to life. We are being tested to see what priorities we will set in our lives. Those who chose right will be saved. Those who chose wrong will not. The right way is God^s way. All other ways are wrong. For some the judgment time is now for others it will be later. Man cannot solve his own problems without God. How many mouths has the theory of evolution fed?
Some try to live life to the fullest by seeking pleasure. The irony is that there is no greater pleasure to be found in life but to live by God^s laws. No one has a better sex life than a married couple, for example. There is no safer sex. There is no more wholesome sex. There is no more beneficial sex. Homosexuals would discredit my claims but there is no place for homosexuals in God^s kingdom. The Bible condemns homosexuality. Many seek other pleasures in life but at best they produce fading memories.
There are some who would try to work their way to the kingdom. They fail to obey God^s commandment to take a day of rest every Sabbath. There are many who disobey this commandment for various reasons. They will all have to face judgment some day. It is God^s commandment and this burden is not grievous but a joy. Do you have the heart to obey God without contortions or distortions? Do you have the heart to take God^s word as it is plainly stated without adding anything to its simplicity and without taking anything away from its intended meaning? God puts His presence in every Sabbath. There is no other day like it. Are you tuned in to His blessings? If not, who^s fault is that? If yes, thanks be to God!
God is love and the way of God is love. God is not displaying emotion in His creation. He is providing life. Love is not a display of emotion, it is caring for others well being, physically, mentally and spiritually. Emotions are often pitfalls that need to be kept in check. We are to overcome not to become emotional wrecks. Work out your own salvation in the fear of God and his Word which we learn in the Bible, which is His way. This will lead to freedom, peace and eternal life, which are God^s pleasure to give.
2011 Jacques Gauvin
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