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NO
OTHER GODS
WHICH
GOD WILL YOU BE SERVING THIS YEAR?
There
are innumerable gods being served today. Some are old and familiar gods;
others are ‘modern’ gods.
There are ancient household gods and
modern household gods. There are those who worship and serve ancestral
family gods, and there are those who worship the family as a god.
Some worship and serve idols, others
idolize their possessions, positions or powers.
The gods of pleasure, experience,
feelings, are worshipped, served and obeyed, by vast numbers of people
today.
There have always been multitudes of
gods, and today, in our sophisticated society, we have them all.
But they are all false gods.
It seems fashionable to follow after false
gods; a great many people are doing it, and always have done it!
There are many prophets and apostles of
the false gods encouraging accepting, worship and obedience of these
false gods.
It is an old story that continues to be
repeated today.
The commandment, ‘You shall have no
other gods besides me’ (Exodus 20:3 & Deuteronomy 5:7)
needs repeating today. And so should the warnings about those who, lead
people to follow after false gods.
“If
a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign
or a wonder, and the sign or wonder which he tells you comes to pass, and
if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, and
‘let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to that prophet or that dreamer
of dreams...”
Deuteronomy 13:1-3
Today’s ‘prophets and dreamers of dreams’
can appear very convincing. A great deal of trickery and deception is used
by many and most of those who lead people to follow’ after other gods’.
Sometimes they use powers that appear to
come from the One True God, but in reality don’t.
Jesus warned that false prophets can be
known by their fruits (the messages they proclaim - NOT the
miracles they perform - or statistical growth data!). He said that some of
these false prophets will use his name, and perform miracles and
mighty works, cast out demons, and prophesy. On the surface, they would
say and do things in his name, and they would happen! This, however, does
not make them true prophets. Jesus declared of them that on the Judgement
Day he’ will reject them. The test of truth lies in what they teach about
God. Are the teachings in accord with what God has already revealed, or
are they contrary to what he has revealed? Anything contrary to what God
has revealed will result in following after other gods - and God warns
against that!
Paul mentions that if Satan, disguised as
an angel of light, can deceive by looking convincing, than so can his
followers and apostles. (See Matthew chapter 7 & 2 Corinthians 11:1-15)
We should not be fooled because Christ is
talked about, Jesus’ name is mentioned, and the Bible is quoted. That
Adversary, the devil, quoted Scripture in the temptations of Jesus, and
James tells us that even the demons believe in God, and shudder. Just
because some state that they believe in God, and use all the ‘right
religious’ words does NOT mean they are true prophets of the True God.
(See Luke 4:1-13 & James 2:19)
More than ever, people need to become
biblically literate and develop discernment and wisdom under the guidance
of the Spirit of God.
There are many voices calling for
commitment and surrender - the way to the One True God, who will not
tolerate false gods, is through Jesus Christ (see John 14:6; 20:24-31).
God, who in the past spoke in different ways through different messengers,
has finally ‘said it all’ through Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-4). Listen to God as
he speaks through Jesus Christ, surrender fully, follow and obey Him
wholeheartedly.
Make
sure you will serve the One True God this year.
(The
preceding editorial was first published two decades ago, in
January-February 1983. These comments made back then are just as relevant
today – if not even more so.)
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