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One of my co-wokers recently told me, “Everybody needs something to believe in.” I was reading the front page of the daily newspaper and found that, lately, religious disparity seems to be a popular topic in America. This co-worker commented that it is “human nature” to have hope in a radical, religious doctrine that promises a divine reward. Therefore, there will always be a need to incorporate religion into our society. In Romans 8:24-25, the Apostle Paul tells us, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” The hope that seemingly drives people to seek religious answers regarding the ending of this mortal world does not appear to be as simple as “human nature.” God has created the mortal soul and has instilled a deep yearning in us to be saved, by whatever means, in hopes of one day living eternally in peace. Until that much anticipated day of hope and glory arrives, human life expectancy only grants each of us a limited amount of time.
In today’s society, people are empty, living with doubt and despair. They are, therefore, willing to have the emptiness filled with lies, ungodliness and doctrines of men. Part of the problem is that there are so many “truths” in the world, that we often fail to base our decision solely on the word of God. This eventually leads us into a church, or religious group, without a clue as to what God’s true teaching or purpose is for our lives. In Proverbs 13:12, the Bible tells us that “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” Therefore, we must beware of false hope, or rather false doctrines, and seek the direction of the Holy Spirit. Only then will we truly be given the hope of a blessed assurance. In Hebrews 6:11, we read, “And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.”
There is only one truth that reveals the will of God, one truth that teaches longsuffering for the cause of Christ, and one truth that provides the grace and the tools that are necessary to resist the temptations of this world, allowing us to go on to perfection. (Heb. 6:1) It is, to me, a relief to know that nothing can hinder those who have the will and the desire to carry out the works of God. Paul says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” If we truly crave to know the mysteries of God and the truth of the end of this world, we will read His word and ask Him to fill us with the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord, so that the secrets of God and the true work for which His church has been called, may be revealed unto us. When we obtain this revelation, we will be delivered from the lies of this world so that we may be lead unto truth and righteousness. Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
By the grace of God and the mercy of His Son, He has revealed unto us the Truth. If we search the scriptures and reject false teachings, God will give us the wisdom to “come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Amen.