RELIGIOUS, BUT LOST!
“A wonderful (enormous) and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy (the preachers preach) falsely, and the priests (preachers) bear rule by their means; and my people (the church) love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah 5:30-31
Can you imagine going to the doctor for a check up, and he finds out that you have cancer? He knows it is treatable if you jump on it quickly. Without a doubt you can be saved. Yet, this doctor does not want to make you fearful or uncomfortable. He does not want to give you any bad news. He wants you to like him… so he tells you, “You are ok, my friend. Watch your diet… get plenty of rest and exercise… and enjoy life.” You leave “feeling” good, totally unaware that you are in serious, serious trouble. I would not go to that kind of a doctor, would you? As much as it may hurt in the short run to get bad news about my physical health, I would much rather hear the truth than be told a lie.
SPIRITUAL TRUTH.
Since the beginning, the devil has been working day in and day out to “pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10). One of the best ways for him to accomplish this is to fill the pulpits with a false gospel . . . a “Tastes great, less filling” gospel; an “I’m okay, you’re okay” gospel; a “watered down” gospel that doesn’t offend anyone.
This is the very reason why there are many religious, but lost people in the church today! What is the truth that every person needs to hear? Well, there’s two sides to the truth…On one side is the BAD news and on the other side the GOOD news. They’re the heads and tails of the same coin…the gospel. You can’t separate the good and bad news of the gospel. You see, the good news is not “good” news until you hear the “bad” news.
And . . .
THE BAD NEWS IS THIS:
Everyone is born into this world in serious trouble. We are born with the spiritual cancer called sin. The Bible says, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalm 51:5). Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” And as a result, Romans 6:23 says, “The wages (payment) for sin is death (eternal separation from God forever).
No amount of good works, church attendance, Bible reading, church membership, baptism, financial giving, fasting, prayer or selfless service can get us off the highway to hell. If there was something we could do in our own strength or by our own merit to save ourselves from the payment for our sins, Jesus suffered and died on the cross for no reason. Someone has said, “The worst form of human badness is human goodness when it’s substituted for the cross!” Until a person hears and believes the bad news, they’ll never understand what makes the good news so good!
And . . .
THE GOOD NEWS IS:
God still loves us and has made a way to escape the payment for our sins in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to this earth for one main reason: to pay for our sins on the cross. “But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Have you been saved? I’ve been asked, “Saved from what?” Have you been saved from having to pay for your sins? The good news is you don’t have to suffer the payment for your sins. When a person puts their faith where God put their sins…the cross…that person’s sin debt will be cancelled! No one can do this for you. It is a personal, individual decision that must be made in order to be cleansed of the spiritual cancer called sin. The evidence that we have truly given our lives to Christ and have placed our faith and trust in Him is this:
A CHANGED LIFE.
Has your life been changed . . . on the inside? Are you any different . . . on the inside? So many people have religion and not a true relationship with God through Jesus Christ. What is the difference?
Religion is an outside job . . . it is gritting your teeth, slugging it out and trying to do better. It is cleaning the outside of the cup while the inside stays dirty.
RELIGION WILL NEVER GET YOU TO HEAVEN.
I’ll not soon forget a dear senior lady in my former church, Ms Louise Crout. Toward the end of the worship service, I gave an invitation for anyone who wanted to be saved to come to the altar. Ms Crout stepped out into the aisle and came down. I knelt down and asked her, “Ms Crout, What can I pray with you about?” She said, “Brother Doug, I’m 73 years old and I just realized I’ve never trusted Jesus to come into my heart!” She went on to tell me, “I have a four year degree in Christian Education. I know all about the Bible. I know a lot about Jesus, but through your sermon today, He’s shown me that I don’t know Him personally!” WOW! I prayed with her. She repented of her sins, invited Jesus into her heart and she was gloriously saved! PTL!
DO YOU HAVE THE REAL THING?
My friend, do you have a true relationship with Christ and not just lifeless religion? The worst thing that could ever happen to a person is to live all their life thinking they are okay and then hear those terrible words at the judgment, “I never knew you; depart from Me…” (RELIGIOUS, BUT LOST! ). If you are not sure about your salvation, surrender your life TODAY to Jesus. Pray this simple prayer from the heart:
“Lord Jesus, I need you. I am a sinner, and I am lost, and I cannot save myself. I am on the highway to hell. Save me, Jesus! I believe you died and rose again for me. I’m turning from my sins. Forgive me and come into my life. I receive you into my heart right now! Amen!”
Remember, God does business with those who mean business. The moment you pray that prayer and really mean it, Jesus will come into your life and save you forever. If you prayed this prayer, this is only the beginning. You need to get in a church that proclaims the truth with no apologies! Get involved in Bible study and a ministry to others. And keep in mind that many around you are hearing a “feel good” gospel today, but they desperately need to hear the truth. Start spreading the truth to others!
Think it over . . .
Doug Pierce is a Church planter and a pastor. In 2003 he started, and continues to pastor First Independent Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi. His #1 priority is to glorify God in all aspects of ministry. He does this through teaching his congregation to Love God, Love One Another, and Love Others to God. Prayer, outreach, and church growth through evangelism are vital parts of his ministry. He and his wife Suzanne live in Madison, Mississippi where they also enjoy their children and grandchildren.
Image by Avelino Calvar Martinez from Pixabay
It is true that Religion will not get us to heaven but Relationship. Once we keep good relation with God and His children, we start living in the kingdom of God or Heaven. The Bible tells us that Heaven is at hand – meaning it is HERE AND NOW .The Scripture tells us that when God had created the earth and everything in it, “He looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good” (Genesis 1;31) .when you look at the meaning of GOOD in most dictionaries. you will realize that it means; untainted, un -evil, significant, important, sufficient, efficient, Godly. It is therefore evident that what God had created lovingly can not be bad or sinful. we should not directly interpret the scripture but should give every verse a second thought.
YOUR FRIEND-HIS SERVANT,
ISAAC OTIENO
NAIROBI KENYA