Why do you believe the things you believe about religion? Why do you profess to be a religious?
These questions have been asked many times. Some can tell you why they own a certain brand of automobile, or that they follow a certain athletic team, but they cannot tell why they believe what they believe.
Some follow a certain religious group because their family has always followed that group. Others follow another group because it is convenient to their location, or their spouse follows a certain discipline.
Knowing that one’s soul is in the balance, why would one not seek to know if what they are following is the truth? Jesus said the truth would set one free.
God’s word tells in his word what is right and what is wrong. In the days of Jesus on the earth, there were those who were following ways different from what God had commanded. Jesus said their “worship” was vain.
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). If it were possible for this to be the case when Jesus was on earth, is it not reasonable to believe it could be the case today.
Some have the idea that because there are so many alive today, surely God’s word has changed to accommodate everyone.
That is where the mistake comes. God does not change to accommodate man. God expects man to change to God’s way.
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” (Jer. 10:23).
Man may think there are many ways to reach God, but they fail to understand that God’s way is the only way. Jesus had something to say about this: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Jesus also spoke about the necessity of following his words: “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
“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. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John 12:46-50).
The best place to see that God wants all men to follow the same way is found in the Lord’s Prayer, which is found in John 17.
Notice his words: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20, 21).
God has given man these words so that one can understand the importance of knowing where their faith rests. It is a personal thing that each person must look at seriously.
Do not delay in finding out what God wants. Your soul depends on one’s answer.