What if we began drinking from polluted wells and began eating exotic foods that caused our eyesight to fail, hair to fall out and a host of other problems? What if it was brought to our attention that drinking from these wells and consuming these foods was causing us harm and could possibly lead to our deaths if we did not make an immediate change? What if we simply could not or would not give these things up in spite of the warnings?
We would eventually go blind and bald wouldn't we? We might even die.
This is happening to Christians in alarming numbers. They are going blind (their discernment has become seriously distorted). They are going bald (their spiritual, and even physical, health is adversely affected). And some are even dying (departing from the faith), because after joyfully receiving the truth about the dangers of their various watering holes and favorite exotic foods, they make no real change in their drinking and eating habits.
We have received a number of correspondences from those who thank us, profusely, for warning them about the unscriptural, dangerous, nature of certain beliefs and practices in their lives (they confide they picked up these erroneous ideas not only through the churches they attend but through television/radio ministries and online discussion groups as well). They joyfully embrace the scriptural truth about these things and experience immediate improvements in their vision. Their hair begins to grow back. They loudly praise God for their deliverance and begin contending for the faith… for a time.
We then watch helplessly as some slowly slip right back into the same mire they were recently so loudly and publicly praising God for pulling them out of.
How does this happen?
It happens because they refuse to stop drinking from polluted wells and they refuse to give up exotic foods. They stay in churches they know promote error. They continue tuning in to television and radio ministries and online discussion groups that subvert their faith. They continue reading authors who promote error.
Before we know it, they seem to be gone—given over completely to a lie—or at the very least remain in a state of confusion—constantly challenging us to prove and re-prove the thing they publicly renounced just a short time before.
What if Jesus told us something and we then ran to Satan to hear his side of things? In addition to endangering ourselves, we would become seriously confused wouldn’t we? Do the scriptures teach any such method for determining truth? Everything we say may not be truth. But God forbid anyone go to Satan to find out what he thinks about it—better go to the scriptures.
Let's make up our minds. The Bible says a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Instability is nothing to be taken lightly. If the scriptures convince us we are drinking from polluted wells and eating poisonous exotic food. Abandon those wells and give up that food immediately! Do not take another sip. Do not take so much as another nibble.
Find another church. Turn off the television and radio—better yet, throw them out completely. Throw away books, tapes, cd’s and music that serve as conduits for polluted water sources. Leave discussion groups that engage in profane and vain babblings that only lead to subversion of faith.
Immerse ourselves in the word of God. Listen only to wholesome words. In the power of Jesus Christ (only do this if you know that you belong to Christ) bind, rebuke and renounce spirits of rebellion, greed, covetousness and whoredom that cause us to be dissatisfied with the simplicity of Christ and seek after things He has not given.
Allow our hearts to become good ground where the word of God can flourish, grow and bear fruit—not rocky or thorny ground where the enemy can easily steal it from us or bog us down with the cares of this world.
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