God's word in today's world

Some spiritual know-alls warra-warra


Once, driving around with a friend, we talked about how we experienced the way other people lived according to their faith. I told him that I sometimes felt inferior compared to the way other people did things. The way in which they lived their faith sometimes made me feel guilty and then I questioned the way I believed and how I lived it and started wondering if it was not too little and too thin.

He admitted this happened to him too.

Sometimes we’re way off in our thinking. We can be oversensitive, especially when we are not 100% informed about things. Take the second coming. God’s Word has a lot of information about it, but people still feel somewhat apprehensive, because it is a bit uncertain and unfamiliar. It is especially in these grey areas that we often listen to others when we think they know more than we do and then we simply run after them.

I suspect this is what happened with the people of Thessalonica. That is why Paul warned them: 1-3 Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don’t go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him. Don’t let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master’s arrival has come and gone. Don’t fall for any line like that.

But don’t simply point the finger at these young Christians. How often have we felt uncertain? How often have we slavishly followed a great spiritual leader, accepting everything he or she says as the truth?

Whether it’s the second coming or some other piece of theology, we ourselves need to make sure whether it’s the right direction to go. All of us are only human. Me too. Just the other day I sent out a Crossroads message in which I said the Israelites had walked through the Nile!

If you are uncertain, take your Bible and study it. Ask the Holy Spirit to take you by the hand and lead on the road to truth. Does this mean we must stop asking assistance from the spiritual leaders in our lives? No, surely not. They are indeed in our lives to lead and guide us. But it is important that we test the truth of what they say against the Word of God, because that is where God’s words are written down.

Yes, we get the shivers when someone gets up and announces a day and date for Jesus’ second coming. Apparently, he has a direct line to God or has had a vision of some kind. It gets to you and you start wondering whether you are ready and what about the kids and the rest of the family. But you don’t have to be afraid.

Nobody knows, I repeat, nobody knows! Jesus will come like a thief in the night. You need to make sure that you are ready and that your loved ones will enjoy your eternal home with you.

And while some people warra-warra about so-called spiritual insight and special truths specially revealed to them alone, test it against God’s Worde. Ask the brothers and sisters close to you. Pray about it and allow the Holy Spirit to whisper the truth in your ear.

Trust God’s truth and live life to the full, without uncertainties or restrictions.

(And if you still want to know more about the end times, please go and read about it in 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12. It is explained well there.)

Scripture

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

To think about

Who do you listen to?

Do the things that people say sometimes scare you?

What does the Spirit say to you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you that your Holy Spirit leads me in the truth. Please help me to trust You so that I will discuss every matter and uncertainty with You and to believe that You will lead me on the right road. I don’t understand everything, but I do know that I will know understand everything one day. Thank you for that assurance in your Word. Amen.

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