Mistaken Report

Matthew 14: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, ² and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

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Herod’s beliefs made him hear the report of JESUS’s miracles differently. Herod thought that if a person is killed they could come back as a super-powered ghost-human. Though he may have had many killed, he chose John as the cause because he had John murdered.

• My soul will last for eternity and will never enter into someone else.
• My soul will be raised to heaven only because I believe that JESUS is my savior.
• My soul will receive a new sinless body not another sinful body.

Herod almost had it right. JESUS would later be raised from the dead but not for Herod’s self-center purpose. JESUS would in fact be murdered, just like HIS cousin John. BUT JESUS died for a much greater purpose.

• JESUS came to earth as a human who never sinned.
• JESUS was accused, slandered, beaten and killed by those who were church leaders.
• JESUS rose from the dead to assume all power.

Suffering was JESUS’s purpose, not to come back and torment one person. Herod’s beliefs got him an eternity separated from JESUS. My beliefs bring me eternal salvation.

• Do you have beliefs in reincarnation?
• Do you think science will explain away your eternal soul?
• Will you take the step today to believe in the ONE who can save you, namely JESUS? 

GOD knows science

1 Kings 4:²⁹ God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. ³⁰ Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 

³¹ He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. ³² He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. ³³ He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. ³⁴ From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

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Staring at the test, my mind raced. “Should I answer the question with my belief?” was my quandary. The question was steeped in evolution and, while I had not been in church, I was taught that GOD created everything. I answered the question the way I was supposed to and received a good grade, but felt a sense of loss, kinda like I betrayed GOD.

• I have strived to be “smart” but I was pointed in the wrong direction.
• I wanted to gain “knowledge” but it didn’t carry faith.
• I desired to “understand” but at the end of each road I was left with more questions.

In my opinion, belief in GOD isn’t as popular as it used to be. Scientific discoveries mixed with the endless possibility of money seem to drown out the message of GOD. It’s easy for me to blend in rather than stand out, BUT GOD wants recognition.

• GOD is the source of wisdom so I must credit HIM with all I know.
• GOD is the source of knowledge for it is HE who made everything.
• GOD is the source of understanding because HE sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live inside of me to lead and guide me in HIS ways.

Scholars, business people and those who are highly respected would scoff at my beliefs, approaches and practices. Instead of relying on the world, GOD wants me to ask HIM for direction first. HE even sends unlikely people my way and says “here is your person.” EVERY time I have listened to GOD’s strange ways, I came out on top!

• Are you seeking to be “smart” or “wise?”
• Is the knowledge you are seeking on GOD’s path?
• What will you do with the knowledge you acquire?
• Won’t you ask GOD for wisdom, knowledge and understanding so HE can use your talents for HIS purposes?

Do I believe a little or a lot?

John 12: ⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. ⁴⁵ The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

   ⁴⁷ “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

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Being a follower of GOD is tough sometimes. The occurrences of JESUS happened over two thousand years ago and while well documented, take faith to truly believe all of the things HE did. Over the years my broken faith has led me to ponder GOD and HIS relationship with me.

Wrong or right for testing HIM, I did check to see if HE was there and I concluded with a resounding YES!

• I looked at science who says my creation came from a large collision and the fragments on this planet were just right to start the chain of evolution.
• I looked at groups who don’t quite believe in science, but they somewhat believe in a higher being, and they somewhat believe in their field of study.
• I looked at “religion” and there were so many conflicting views over what a deity truly is.

These tests were done with filtered thinking because my parents had taught me the ways of CHRIST, but I had to see for myself. Here is what I found.

• It’s easier to believe GOD was always here rather than gasses and minerals colliding by happenstance.
• It’s easier to believe GOD created humans in HIS image with love embedded in them than cells evolving to the point where love happened to appear.
• It’s easier to believe GOD’s rules are so pure that only HE could save me from the consequences.

The more I read the Bible, the more it makes sense. No science, self-help or coincidence can explain what is truly going on. It boils down to this, I am a sinner and I need GOD not only to save me eternally but to guide me through this murky thing called life. HE even knows my faith is faulty, yet HE loves me!

• Do you believe in science more than GOD?
• Is your comfort zone in your field of study or can you step out on faith and add GOD to your thoughts?
• Do you believe in some things about GOD or all things GOD says?
• Is JESUS just a myth to you or is HE GOD who became a human to die for you?
• Are you avoiding learning more about GOD because you don’t want to change?