In today’s reading from Daniel, God’s judgment on Babylon’s King Belshazzar was announced in a very dramatic way. A disjointed man’s hand suddenly appeared and wrote on the wall. History tells us the pronouncement in “the handwriting on the wall” was carried out that very night.
God’s Word may not suddenly appear on the walls of our government. It may not appear on the walls of our homes or businesses, but it’s just as sure in our lives and the world at large.
Today’s New Testament reading warns of God’s judgment, too. This time against false teachers. Their doctrines are man-centered and appeal to the flesh and our selfish nature. No wonder they are still popular today. Yet, because they are often mixed with truth, their lies can seem plausible. But they will pull us away from knowing God as He really is and often shipwreck our faith. So, we need to be able to recognize them.
Many people today want to throw the Bible out completely. They try to discredit God’s people by saying we’re intolerant and mean-spirited when we call for a biblical standard. Attempting to destroy God’s Word is nothing new, but God will preserve it and one day judge those who try to destroy it just as He did in Jeremiah’s time.
While we can rejoice that God will deal with evil men who reject His Word, we may need to examine our own attitudes toward Scripture, as well. How do you view the Bible? As a cafeteria line where you can pick and choose what you like? Do you cut and paste it at will? Do you view it as merely a book of nice suggestions for living or do you view it as God’s Word and allow it to direct every area of your life?
In the garden, Satan sold Eve a bill of goods by telling her she could be like God. In Jeremiah’s day, he spoke through false prophets who told the people that the consequences of their sin wouldn’t be so bad. False teachers and false prophets are saying much the same things today. Some propagate lies because they are misinformed and listening to the wrong voice themselves, but others have their own selfish agenda. But each one of us is responsible to rightly divide the Word of God for ourselves, to know how to study it, and to examine what we hear in light of it. When we don’t we, too, can fall prey to the enemy’s lies.
The last days will produce many false teachers and shepherds who will teach outright lies, twist the truth, or leave out those things that are unpopular or politically incorrect. They will lead many astray with their unbiblical teaching. What can we do so we will recognize them and not fall victim to their deceit?
We’re working our way through the book of Colossians in this series of posts. In this lesson, we’ll look at one of the four elements of false teaching being espoused in Colossae, Jewish legalism, and how our union with Christ makes legalist requirements unnecessary.
We’re working our way through the book of Colossians in this series of posts. In this lesson, we’re going to look at Paul’s warning to them about the danger of being taken captive by a false gospel.
We’re working our way through the book of Colossians in this series of posts. In this lesson, we’re going to look at Paul’s warning to them about the danger of being taken captive by a false gospel.
