Last week we studied how man will be judged by God’s word, therefore one has to determine what he or she is going to believe religiously.
Today, the study is continued. Remember, one needs to take the time to study the Bible for himself. Each person will give an account as to how she lives her life.
Spiritual beliefs must be based on what the word teaches. God’s word is truth (John 17:17). If a person will believe in it and obey, heaven will be their home for eternity.
Some decide what they are going to believe is based solely on what their preacher says. The preacher most likely is a good man, but it is dangerous not to check out what is said by a man, with God’s word. There are many warnings about false teachers in the Bible.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth" (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
With all these warnings it is easily seen that just believing a thing simple because a man said it is dangerous.
Another group of people who seem to be religious believe a thing because that is what they want to believe. This idea is extremely dangerous. If the only reason one believes something is because it is what they want to believe it, how can they know it is right. The owners of the Titanic believed it was unsinkable, yet it rests at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Their belief led them to place fewer life boats on the ship, than what was needed. Their belief cost many lives.
Jeremiah wrote, "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).
In II Kings 5, Naaman thought he knew more than the prophet of God about curing his leprosy. He found out he was wrong and the prophet was right.
A person must not trust only in their wants and desires. When young people become old enough to drive a car, they must learn how to operate a vehicle and what the laws of the state in which they live teach about driving. Many parents’ nerves have been tested by a young person having the desire and need to drive, but they know nothing about how to operate a vehicle in traffic. How could anyone think that man’s desires and wants would get him to heaven?
God’s guide book must be studied and obeyed in order for man to reach the goal of heaven.