Sincerely Wrong

Chuckle: "Sure, you can lead a horse to water; most folks can . . . but if you can teach him to float on his back, then you've really got something!"

Quote: "The devil is sincere, but he is sincerely wrong." --Billy Graham

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6 NIV). "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26 NIV).

No doubt you have heard people rationalize something like this: "it really doesn't matter what one believes as long as he is sincere." My dear friends, nothing could be further from the truth. You can sincerely believe anything you wish and be sincerely and tragically wrong. For centuries, people sincerely believed the earth was flat, but they were sincerely wrong. The words from the lips of our Lord himself tell us there is only one source of truth and one way to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven. Several truths to consider:

1. We choose our beliefs. "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator -- who is forever praised. Amen" (Romans 1:25 NIV). People tend to believe lies that reinforce their own selfish, personal beliefs. You can choose to believe a lie from the evil one, or believe God’s Word.

2. Beliefs govern our behavior. "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do" (Proverbs 4:23 NLT). Our hearts -- feelings of love and desire – dictate, to a great extent, how we live. We always find time to do what we value and enjoy doing.

3. The world teaches false beliefs. "Do not believe everyone who claims to speak the truth. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world" (1 John 4:1 NLT). We should never believe something just because someone says it is a message from God. Test it against what God really says in His Word.

4. False beliefs can cause emotional stress and unhappiness. "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32 NLT). Christ is the source of all truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from the penalty of sin, self-deception, and deception by Satan.

5. God is the only source of reliable and eternal truth. ". . Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is true" (Romans 3:4 NLT). "Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever" (Luke 21:33 NLT).

It really does matter what you believe. You cannot afford to be sincerely wrong. Your eternal destiny depends upon you personal relationship with the One who said, "I am the way and the truth and the life." "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith (in Jesus Christ) -- and this is not of yourselves, it is a gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

 

Love, Jerry & Dotse