Even in our Lord’s life, men were following the words of men and not those of God.

Jesus said of this, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Men had added to the teachings of God and tried to get men to adhere to their additions as if they were from God.

If this could happen when Christ walked among men, cannot it happen in our time? Of course it can and it has. The words of Jeremiah come to mind, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). God has provided the road map men need to follow; it is the Bible.

The word of God is not to be altered by man. Notice how God in his word has told man this time and time again.

• “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2).

• “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:6).

• “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).

God, in his foreknowledge, knew that man would try and change his word.

Since we will not be judged by the words of men but by the words of the Lord, we must make sure what we believe religiously is God’s teaching and not man’s. Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Think how terrible it would be to be a zealous follower of a religion only to find out on the day of judgment the teachings were man’s and not God’s.

The Psalmist wrote, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Following the word of God will lead us in the right direction and get us to our destination — heaven. It is the desire of God that all men should be saved; he does not want man to follow another way. That is why he has given us his word. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). With this information, man can go to heaven.

Some fail to realize that God is for us, not against us. God has provided the plan to follow and has given us examples of those who followed it. Read the book of Acts. The people heard the word; they believed, were willing to repent of their sins, confessed that Jesus is the son of God and were baptized for the remission of their sins. God has told us that his will must be obeyed. “Not every one that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). God has provided Christ as the only sacrifice that can remove sin.

Man will always try and do things his own way, but when it comes to spiritual matters, God must be obeyed.