Good Morning Everyone,
As I awoke this morning I reached for my Bible and turned to the Book of Jude. I read the first four verses and then meditated on them for some time. My thoughts drifted off into a couple of past experiences, both of which I thought I would share with you this morning.
But first a bit of reflection on Sunday's message. Remember I preached on the Liberty of Free Will from Joshua 24:15. One very important point that Joshua made to the new, young generation as they began to set up residence in the Promise land was that they should "choose for themselves what they would believe and whom they would follow." Joshua was referring to the very precious gift from God called "free will"; and the essence of free will is that we have a choice.
A number of years ago, I set out in my community to visit from house to house. It was a very unique area because of the type of some people who lived there. One such case was a person who referred to himself as a 'swami' (so-in-so). I walked down a long driveway and encountered a man digging a hole. He told me that he was making a new latrine.
We greeted one another. I introduced myself as the community pastor. He invited me to come into his home. I look around for a dwelling, but could not see one. He pointed up in the air, and there in a very tall maple tree was his house. He lived about 25 feet in the air in a tree house.
I followed him up a ladder and we entered into the well crafted tree dwelling. The furniture consisted of a couple of pillows to sit on, a sleeping bag, and a small makeshift altar. Two unlit candles stood side by side, and a picture of a far eastern guru hung on the wall. My host explained that he was a follower of this person and his religion.
He then proceeded to tell me that he had the inside story about Jesus of Nazareth. I said that I would love to hear it. He explained to me how the truth about Jesus came to him. He was taken out into an outer-body experience back in time to when Jesus was supposedly crucified. He told me that Jesus wasn't really crucified, he had simply fainted on the cross and when he was placed in the cold tomb, he was revived. His followers then rushed him off to Egypt where he lived the rest of his life. He married Mary of Magdelene and they had several children together.
I asked him what proof he had of this experience. He told me that in his outer body experience he went back in time and met Jesus beside a well and had a conversation with him. Jesus told him all that he was sharing with me and told him to spread the news about what had really happened.
Can you imagine?....
Another such incident occured a few weeks later when I visited a home not far form the previous experience. I knocked on the door and a young gentleman came to the door. I introduced myself and he invited me in. He was happy that I had come because he had been reading his Bible and had some questions to ask. As we entered into the living room, his walls had pictures everywhere. They were piictures of women from pornographic magazines.
I was a bit taken back, and a little bit uncomfortable. He began to ask questions about the bible and I answered them as best I could. However, It was a bit difficult to concentrate on the conversation because of the pictures in my peripheral view as I was trying to look and him a read my Bible at the same time.
I then told him that I was very distracted by the pictures. He replied to me that he did not view these pictures as pornography, but as art. He explained that for him to display nude bodies of women was a way for him to worship God. God is the creator of the human body, and all things God makes for man are for him to enjoy. We should behold and worship such beauty.
Can you imagine?.....
The point I am making this morning is one about choices. God blesses us with the gift of free will to make choices. Unfortunately, because of our innate sinful nature, sin becomes a power within us too make wrong choices that are an abomination to God.
I read in a Warren Weirsbe book many years ago that they only way Satan can influence you is through your mind - in your thinking. He uses our innate sinful nature to his advantage and aims for our point of weakness. He does not make us sin, but becomes a powerful influence in our choices to do so.
This is why it is so important to study such books of the Bible as the book of Jude. The main reason is to keep reminding us to not become complacent in our faith, but to always be on our guard against the wiles of the devil.
Influences are all around us - some good and some bad. They enter into our psyche through every type of medium out there. God wants to empower our thinking with His truth so that we will always be able to discern for ourselves the only real truth - the truth of God; and make it our choice to follow Him.
Blessings.
-Leo
