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5/23/2010 Are you on the Right road?

ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT


ROAD?
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov 14:12

"Enter ye at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction," Matt 7:13

When I was witnessing and handing out tracts, I sometimes ran into people who said that all roads lead to God. Or there are
thousands of roads that lead to God. Which means you can do whatever you please and God will okay it.

The Bible says: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one cometh unto the Father but by me." John
14:6.

This is a shock to those who are on the wrong / dead end roads that end up in Hell instead of Heaven. They usually argued:
"How do you know you are right and I am wrong?" "Show me the proof that you are right!" "I dont believe that the Bible is
right and my book(s) are wrong." At the time I was at a loss for words and could only argue that the Bible was always found
true when tested. This then lead to the discussion about some assumed problems in the Bible text etc. Needless to say, we
parted without any agreement.

Then one night when I was tired, and relaxing in a hot tub, and having a discussion similar to the one above, the power of God
spoke through me to those around me with such force that I was shocked. God said: "If you are committing the same sins over
and over, and continue to have the same bad attitudes toward your fellow man, then there is something wrong in your beliefs."
The result was as if I had sent fire out of my mouth. The argument was over and so was the discussion. The proof is evidenced
by the way we live, and how much we love our fellow man. We can say anything and make it sound great. But can we live it?
When we try to stop doing wrong, are we just shifting the evil from the seen to the unseen, and what about our attitudes? We
think that we are doing "good" by helping others, but do we hate those who we are helping? Or are we feeling self righteous for
overcoming some evil in our life, while judging those who are still losing the battle with the same evil? Think about former
smokers, former alcoholics, former drug users, and former overweight people and check their attitudes towards others with the
same problem.

You say that this is hopeless, and that this is only natural. This is where the wrong beliefs are evidenced. We can not be better
on our own; we are lost in sin and need help. And all the wrong roads are just a diversion to cover this condition. Each dead
end road promises that you will get better if you believe these concepts and follow this set of rules and dont do that (whatever
they think is wrong). But you can not always follow their rules, no matter what the concepts or how hard you try, so you have
to compromise or break their rules, and you condemn yourself for being weak. Then they either give you a new set of rules,
with a means to torture yourself i.e. "penance", to make up for the "bad" you did, or they compromise and say that this rule
really doesnt apply for this situation. You really dont change; you are just being put under more pressure. A corset will
squeeze you into the shape you want, but as soon as it comes off you are the same as before. You are uncomfortable with a
bunch of crushing rules and soon hate this pressure and your attitude changes; you either give in or seek release as soon as
possible. And as soon as you can get away, you rebel and do what you were told not to. Then you are full of guilt. This cycle
repeats over and over until you give up, or become some kind of self-righteous fanatic.

This is where Gods savior Jesus Christ comes in. He died for our sins and loves us in our evil condition. "But God
commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Rom 5:8. This love cost him everything,
yet is free to us if we just ask him for it. He is ready to come into our lives and change us for the better. This feeling of Gods
forgiveness is like a heavy burden being lifted from us and we feel free. You have to try it!
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5/23/2010 Are you on the Right road?

Then you ask why do some of the churches that proclaim the gospel dump a bunch of rules on their members? The answer is
that even though they know this freedom from their sin, they havent learned the full extent of how it works, and they fall back
to a new side road. They are on the road to heaven, but they have added their own old rules and customs to the truth. Jesus
harshest criticism was for the Pharisees who took the Jewish law and burdened the people with it to the impossible degree,
while not keeping it themselves. The church that falls back on a bunch of rules isnt much different from a cult that never knew
salvation. The same saying from God applies: "If you are committing the same sins over and over, and continue to have the
same bad attitudes toward your fellow man, then there is something wrong in your beliefs."

As you travel on the right road you naturally stop doing the things that hurt you, hurt others, and displease the one who loves
you so much. Most of the time it is not a burden. It is a joy. You also love others more and more, without trying. You are loved,
and you can now love back, both God and your brothers. You are not lovable, now or then, but you are loved, and you can
love others who are also not lovable. As you change attitudes your actions also change and slowly you learn to do what is
needed to improve this relationship with God. A marriage is like our relation with God. When we have the right beliefs the love
grows deeper and deeper, and we do what the other wants because we love them. This change comes slowly and only as we
learn more about God and as we continue growing in our relation with Him. When we stop growing and say "I have had
enough", then God backs off and lets us have our way. If we start "again" to have the wrong beliefs, this marriage cools and we
do what we want and dont care whether we hurt our partner. But God is always keeping after us, and when we realize that we
are wrong, He takes us back and we start where we left off. This can continue for a lifetime, as long as we want it to.

This road to Heaven is like a modern highway. There are ups, downs, curves and some areas that need repair. Jesus through
the Holy Spirit leads us onward at our own pace. Some of our sin patterns drop off easily, some take time and effort, and some
we find are not sin at all, only remnants of others rules that we were taught. Our attitudes are changed as we forgive others,
ourselves, and God for the past hurts we experienced. The Holy Spirit works with us on one problem at a time and also gives us
the answers when we feel helpless and lost. As we, with His help, conquer one sin pattern after another, we do not get a
swelled head, because we see how far we have to go to be like Jesus. When we stop or go off the track we lose our joy and if
we continue going astray the Holy Spirit allows any cause and effect troubles and other problems to overtake us. This way we
are corrected and come running back to the right road. Once we have it, we can never lose our salvation, no matter how bad we
allow it to get. God is always there to guide us back and He keeps after us, because we are His adopted (chosen) children.

Sometimes God allows problems that are not due to "our choices" to come upon us. These are like the thunderstorms crossing
the road. These are allowed so we can build up our faith and show us that He is trustworthy in these troubles. We have to cling
on to Him and he holds us up and when they are over we are stronger and know that we have Gods help and can face
anything. These tests show that our faith in Him is not just an idea, but a real fact that can be relied on when our circumstances
cause us to fear the worst. I cant imagine what people without this relationship with God go through when similar troubles hit
them.

We may have to take a road that we never thought we would travel. Jesus usually gives us a special "road map" and assures us
that this is the "way go to", even if others do not see it that way. We will find the greatest joy and happiness by following this
road. But if we are too scared, Jesus will provide an alternative road that will also give us joy and happiness. He loves us and
wants the best for us, and even if we mess it up, He will make the best of what we do.

When I look back, I see how far I have come, I also see where I could have done better. I see that Jesus has leaded me into the
best I would accept. I could have been richer, better known, or more involved in Christian work; but I couldnt be happier. I
should have solved many problems sooner; kept closer to Jesus; avoided needless bad attitudes; asked for His guidance
before making some major changes in my life; taken the roads Jesus wanted me to, but was too scared to; but through it all I
can see His leading.

Now I am asking that you change your beliefs, because: God said: "If you are committing the same sins over and over, and
continue to have the same bad attitudes toward your fellow man, then there is something wrong in your beliefs."

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