Ah, another day, another difference a day makes.  Where it was bright and sunny yesterday it is now cloudy and dreary today.

Such is Fall in our neck of the woods.  Continuing to pray for both daughter-in-loves as they wrestle with illnesses – grandchildren all appear to be over their illnesses.  Seems that there is always something.

Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

To complicate the Word of God, satan has used the fact that we are not holy, that we are sinful creatures and propagates the lie that:  therefore we can only achieve salvation by working hard, by helping others, by dedicating ourselves to God.  Without such activity, according to him, we are doomed to eternal damnation.

Satan can even use ‘good works’ to his advantage as he stresses that it is the only way to heaven – when in fact it can be a slippery slope into hell.

He appeals to the world’s description of being successful by working hard and obtaining the best; anything that is worth having has to be worked for with dedication and drive; if something is free it has no value.

He cannot define, however, when enough is good enough, or if we falter will it take away the credits to salvation we have earned in the past.  Nor does he want to, it helps with the confusion.

The day Antelope was freed from the oppression of the Rajneesh and was able to once again reclaim their freedom and city I took custody of the city’s weapons and paperwork, at the request of the citizens, and stored them for them.

I was a white knight on a white horse riding in to help save the day and they were very grateful.

I was on an emotional high as I attended our annual Sheriff’s Conference a couple of weeks later and related the event with a long time Sheriff who had taken me under his wing.

Paraphrasing now, “Don’t get too excited One ‘oh no,’ can wipe out 100 ‘atta boys.’”  He spoke from experience and it wasn’t long before his words were proven.

No matter how well we may do in this world for people, far too many of them will ask ‘well, what have you done for me lately?’ or will say ‘that is all well and good, but this mistake wipes it all out,’ and the only reason for their displeasure is because you disagreed with their ideas or you failed at a task that was close to them – doesn’t mean you were any less successful in other ways, that one slip caused them to question you.

So, when satan says your salvation can only be obtained through works - who defines, what is works and how many points do I need to enter heaven – and if I sin, how many points do I lose?

You cannot buy your way into heaven.  Some give a great deal to the church and hope that it will buy them grace when they die – and yet continue in sin and reject Christ.

You cannot give your way into heaven by living a selfless lifestyle and giving everything you have to the poor – yet reject Christ.

You cannot work your way into heaven.  Some will spend a lifetime helping others, feeding the hungry and clothing the poor - feeling that by doing so they are automatic candidates to enter heaven – yet reject Christ.

You cannot live your way into heaven.  Some will say, I am a good person, I didn’t steal or murder anyone, I raised a family and contributed to society – yet rejected Christ.

You cannot ‘spiritual life’ your way into heaven.  Some will say I have worshipped (name it) god/sect and have been faithful to their teachings and have been an adherent to their doctrines – yet they rejected Christ.

You cannot follow your own path as those that declare that all paths lead to heaven – yet reject Christ.

You cannot dedicate your life to become a god.  Some will say by doing good works and living the doctrine of their religion we will change into a god – claiming that was what happened to Jesus, he was a man who became a god – yet rejects the fact that He is God from the beginning and the fact we cannot become gods.

There are many lies that satan tells the world that seems correct, that seems to make sense – UNTIL we compare those lies to the Word of God.

God doesn’t care what our ethnic origin is, or what color our skin is, or what country we come from, or how good we may think we are, or how much worldly wealth we have – who our family is – or any other of the myriad things put out there that requires anything except the acceptance of us being sinners; accepting that the reason for Jesus’ death was that His blood can wash away our sins and that He was resurrected from the dead as proof His sacrifice was accepted by God – and that He is alive and well and concerned about us.

God has laid down the terms of salvation; satan’s lies and man, in all his ‘wisdom,’ cannot change it.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 14:5-6 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will lead me and help me to explain to others this great truth.

Later, Art :-)