Of Wrong Doctrines and Drugs

What do wrong doctrines and illegal drugs have in common? Both promise happiness but deliver slavery and misery. 

All wrong doctrines are based on lies. This is proven by what Satan said to Eve in Genesis 3:4 and 5 (BBE), "And the snake said, 'Death will not certainly come to you: For God sees that on the day when you take of its fruit, your eyes will be open, and you will be as gods, having knowledge of good and evil."

And which one of us wouldn't daydream about having god-like powers? Some men have even declared themselves to be gods. As 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and 4 (BBE) tells us, "Give no belief to false words: because there will first be a falling away from the faith, and the revelation of the man of sin, the son of destruction, Who puts himself against all authority, lifting himself up over all which is named God or is given worship; so that he takes his seat in the Temple of God, putting himself forward as God."

We also know how Satan twists Psalms 82:6 (BBE) in the Mormon church to mean that we are little gods. "I said, You are gods; all of you are the sons of the Most High:" Of course they don't read the next verse which says those judges will all die like men.

Though the Bible doesn't mention drugs, it does mention intoxicants. As Paul said about food and drink in 1 Corinthians 6:12 (BBE), "I am free to do all things; but not all things are wise. I am free to do all things; but I will not let myself come under the power of any."

When a person is intoxicated, they lose their judgement. That's why Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:18 (BBE), "And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;"

We whom Christ rescued from the world's debauchery must remain awake and aware. As 1 Peter 1:13 (BBE) exhorts, "So make your minds ready, and keep on the watch, hoping with all your power for the grace which is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"

If our Master doesn't return by Thursday, I plan on posting about how we don't grieve like sinners do when a sibling in Christ goes home to be with the Lord.

Our Ultimate Hope

I'm sure all of us had times in our lives when we awaited some great event. Whether it was graduation from high school or college, or a visit from a long-lost friend, there's that anticipation that kept us on our toes. We didn't get involved in activities which took up our whole attention but kept in mind the approaching event.

Christ's return as the King of Kings is one event all born-again believers long for. As Paul wrote in Titus 2:13 (BBE), we must be "Looking for the glad hope, the revelation of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ;"

The Apostle Paul also admonished his readers, and us too, to be watchful and not distracted by pleasures like our worldly neighbours. We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (BBE), "But let us, who are of the day, be serious, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and on our heads, the hope of salvation."

We also read about staying alert for the Lord's return in 1 Peter 1:13 (BBE)which says,  "So make your minds ready, and keep on the watch, hoping with all your power for the grace which is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"

Though we don't like to admit it, we're in a war with Satan and his demons. That's why Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:3-5 (BBE), "Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus. A fighting man, when he is with the army, keeps himself free from the business of this life so that he may be pleasing to him who has taken him into his army. And if a man takes part in a competition he does not get the crown if he has not kept the rules."

We also have those wonderful promises in the last book in the Bible. Revelation 21:4 (BBE) promises us, "And he will put an end to all their weeping; and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain; for the first things have come to an end."

On Saturday, if Christ doesn't return first, I hope to post about a beautiful song and a pleasureable activity I remember from childhood.