All who are serious about choosing the best Bible Study curriculum and other
Christian resources for their churches want to know what those who are writing
and editing the literature truly believe. Following is a statement of what
we at the Caribbean Christian Publications believe.
Which religions, if any, can lead
you to God?
Can Judaism, Christianity or Islam usher you into the very presence of
the Creator? Or can Hinduism, Buddhism or Confucianism? Rastafarianism,
Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses or Christian Science? The Baha'i Faith,
Hare Krishna or New Age? Do all of these religions lead to God? Or better,
do any of these religions lead to God?
Following you will find some widely
held ideas that must be questioned if
you are to ever find God.
The Bible says "there is a way
that seems right to a man, but in the
end it leads to death" (Proverbs
14:12).
"I respect all religions."
Does the person who says this know his or her own religion well and how
it compares to other major religions? Does he or she realize that there
is much contradiction among religions? Concepts of heaven and hell, salvation
and sin, the purpose of mankind and the nature of God Himself vary immensely
from religion to religion. How can one respect or reconcile beliefs that
are so opposed to each other?
"It doesn't matter what you
believe, as long as you are sincere."
Unfortunately, many people look for God in the wrong places; they are
sincerely wrong. The apostle Paul had persecuted Christians with the
best of intentions.
He soon found out his sincerity was totally misguided. Sincerity alone
is not enough: WHAT we believe about God and how to relate to Him is of
fundamental importance. Those who apply the "sincerity principle" to
religion would never dream of applying it to other areas of life.
"I'm not that bad... I do
the best I can... besides, we're all God's children, right?"
Jesus shocked some religious people who were rejecting His teaching
when He said: "you belong to your father, the devil..." (John 8:44).
Why did He say that? Because even though the privilege of becoming God's
child is offered to everybody, it is only actually extended to those who
receive Jesus and have their lives transformed by Him. In other words, "...
to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the
right to become children of God ..." (John 1:12).
If trying to be religious and
good enough is not the way to finding God, what is?
Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father (God) except through me" (John 14:6). He also said: "I
am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved" (John
10:9a). The fact is that "salvation is found in no one else, for there
is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts
4:12). Those who look for a different way to reach God will utterly fail.
The way is so simple that many miss it. It is so exclusive that many reject
it for they want to find God on their own terms. Yet "no one who
denies the Son (Jesus) has the Father (God)" (1 John 2:23a).
What you will need to know and
decide:
Decide to accept the sacrifice made by Jesus and receive Him as your
Saviour, believing that He has the power to forgive and purify you
of your sins. You do this through prayer (this means talking to God
in the certainty that He exists, is listening and wants to help). You
may want to pray along these lines:
Father, I know that I'll never be good or religious enough to deserve
You. But I thank You that You love me anyway! I confess I have sinned
and ask You to forgive me. I know that Jesus is the only way to God,
the only source of truth and the only gift of eternal life. I also
know that no one can come to You except through Him. I ask You to
come into my heart to be my Lord and Saviour. From now on I want
to live for You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Know that those who receive Jesus will live eternally with Him: "For
God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John
3:16).
Do you want to find God? You will, when you find Jesus, his Son. And
you will find Jesus when you open your heart and invite Him in. Why
not do that right now?
Just pray this prayer with me:
"Father, thank you for your love for me! I confess my sins and
ask you for your forgiveness. I realize that Jesus is the way, the
truth and the life and that no one can come to you except through Him.
I ask Jesus to come into my heart, to be my Lord and Savior . From
now on I want to live for you. In Jesus' name, amen".
Based on "How Can I Find God?" - an illustrated CCP Gospel
Tract.
Would you and
your church like to make a difference in the lives
of Caribbean people?
Through Caribbean Christian Publications you are invited
to share in the mission of reaching Caribbean people
with the gospel of Jesus Christ ... more
...
