There are many things people turn to for power, self-esteem, comfort and guidance.  And we can all agree that this world denies our deep yearnings for utopian life where universal peace and safety prevails for all people.  The most common lesson of history teaches us that it is always foolish to follow any person, ideas or supernatural power that betrays our trust.  Because of misplaced trust, nations have fallen and their populations have endured great affliction.  In our genuine desire for deliverance from life’s injustices and perils, people have placed their faith in the object of their deliverance, even to the point of idolizing that object, whether it be a man, machine, art, literature, music, sports, nature, statues, images, philosophical opinions, or even religion itself.

     All have chosen to worship something or someone.  Man was created to worship.  It is vital to our intellectual/emotional aspirations: to seek something above us: a higher authority—the perfect Father figure, not only for our happiness but also to answer the emotional emptiness we feel at times from our unmet demands for justice, mercy, and love.  So, it is crucial to have truthful instruction to know where we can safely place our faith.  And that instruction must give evidence of its virtue with signs, miracles, and wonders. Only by this can implicit trust be given because without it, there is always a seed of doubt.

     The compelling evidence GOD has allowed to show us that there are forces outside of our ability to control our destiny deals with the mystical aspects of life.  Behold the events of the supernatural recorded in all religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Satan worship, psychics, astrology, fortune-tellers, witchcraft, séances, voodoo, after-death experiences, miraculous healings, mediums, and ghosts.  These would not have drawn the countless followers throughout time unless there was evidence: some kind of visual manifestation—something tangible to the senses.  And with the diversity of witnessed occurrences, drawing allegiance from billions of people only proves that there are overruling powers beyond our control, drawing us to pay homage to the jurisdiction of these forces.  And whose jurisdiction we choose to follow determines not only our safety in this world but also our eternal destiny of life or death: to “live” or to “perish.”  While both display their power and promise blessings, the distinction between the true and its forgery is found in one verse of the Bible: “To the law [the Ten Commandments] and to the testimony [the Holy Bible]: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa.8:20.

     Enter Jesus Christ!  In this world there is only one “hope that maketh not ashamed.”  Our God and Creator stepped down from His “great white throne” where angels answered His every beckoning, and became a man, “meek and lowly in heart,” and literally poured out His life unto death for our salvation as it is written: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood;” “and without shedding of blood is no remission [or pardon for sin].” Lev.17:11; Heb.9:22.  This is the most profound truth known to history.  The Apostle Paul summed up the heart of humanity’s crises and heaven’s deliverance: “Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam’s sin against GOD’S command] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Jesus Christ’s sinless life] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Rom.5:18.

     The Bible addresses each and every hope of the human heart, assuring of their perfect fulfillment, provided that its moral lessons are correctly taught, understood and cherished.  But there is one warning the Bible gives that the world has yet to grasp, where many, even in the church stand blind to its threat.  Over 3,400 years ago Moses recorded GOD’S instruction on the dangers from placing our trust in supernatural powers that lead people into sin.  In submitting to this power they will stand condemned “at the resurrection” should they refuse to repent (Rev.21:8).  To this day, these words carry little weight in both our society and the dominant churches.  Nevertheless, they are key to our understanding a large portion of the evil threatening us in this present world.

“When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire [sacrificing human life to placate an 'angry god'], or that useth divination [a psychic or fortune teller], or an observer of times [an astrologer], or an enchanter [a hypnotist], or a witch [a woman displaying powers given by evil spirits], or a charmer [using superstitions to motivate one’s actions], or a consulter with familiar spirits [gaining instruction from evil spirits], or a wizard [a man with powers given by evil spirits], or a necromancer [gaining comfort and counsel from the dead, including deceased loved ones, friends, the Virgin Mary, or the dead saints].  For all that do these things are an abomination [deplorably destructive] unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.  Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 18:9-13.

     800 years after Moses, all nations were still entangled in every one of these ancient snares.  They are Satan’s tools to deceive men into sin; and he will carry out his deceiving power as far as he is allowed (Job 1:12).  It is precisely this evil influence that caused the ruin of both Israel and Judah as GOD warned so long ago: "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed [or troubled] at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain." Jer.10:2,3.  In each of these nations there were kings that “caused his children to pass through the fire” and “observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards,” and “wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.” II Chron.33:6.  And so it is today.

     In summation: Today's cultic practices, including atheism are universally opposed to Christ’s Utopian Law: The Ten Commandments (Jn.8:58).  We should always refuse anything or anyone that causes us to stand complicit with them in their sins (Prov.1:10) because these are the only laws where we are safe in one another's care.  Historically, and to this day the Vatican refuses obedience to Christ (Matt.19:17).  Likewise, Protestants, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhists, Hindus, witches and atheists—all stand united in their defiance (I Jn.2:4).  The Bible says that most of the human race have eternally chosen to transgress the Law.  Men are blind to see that sin never benefits regardless of its illusion of contribution and temporary “fix” (Heb.11:25). But Jesus promised that one day His Commandments will be fully honored by those who believed His Word and/or obeyed the Holy Spirit’s leading in their lives (Matt.7:14; Rom.10:16).  It is the Law that Christ obeyed to redeem us; the Law that commanded Him to come; the Law that rules throughout the heavens; and the Law that fulfills our desire to live forever in peace: the desire that GOD placed in our hearts, “In the beginning.” Gen.1:1.

     In closing: Without GOD’S intervention to hold back man’s destructive inclinations the extinction of the human race would have come a long time ago through war and disease (Mal.3:5,6).  And yet, society is so blind to its suicidal course that sin is now declared a virtue and an acceptable moral judgment even among the ruling religions of Earth, including Christianity who evangelizes the world into universal sin against the Ten Commandments.  Sin has breached the Holy Law that alone secures the perpetuation of life.  And this is the reason our civilization faces total extinction as predicted thousands of years ago by “the prophets” (Read Isaiah, ch. 24).  In purely social terms, sin has led mankind to disregard the Utopian Standard of Courtesy that GOD gave to insure our mutual safety with one another.  And through compliance to its jurisdiction it guaranties the peace and prosperity of every man, woman, and child.  Said GOD by His prophet; “ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jer.6:16.  But the fact that the world is filled with unrest and the all-too-common betrayal of trust proves that mankind stands defiant against GOD and His Holy Law: the Law given to save; not destroy: to set free; not oppress. 

     Through Jesus Christ, our life is free to chart our own destiny (Rom.14:5).  He has restored our freedom to choose—where before we had no choice.  Simply pray that neither you nor those you love let any threats, coercion, deceitful promises, or shallow flattery sway your faith away.  Only through Jesus Christ and His Word are we to build: “founded upon a rock,” vs. the world, “likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.” Matt.7:24-27.