Reading Mark chapter 1 verses 14 to 34

Two Ways of Life

Which would you prefer? A real item of great value or a worthless forged copy? Life has only two ways to follow and only two, one way is real the other a worthless counterfeit. The Bible explains that one way is the way of the world that promises much but delivers nothing and the other way is The Way of God that is real and true. The majority follow the way of the world as the following verse from The Bible explains. Matt 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The guide to the way of God, The Bible, has some difficult words. There are lots of difficult and unusual words in The Bible.

If you were asked to test a new piece of technical equipment that would be of immense value and use to you then, surely you'd get the instructions and learn how to use it - wouldn’t you? If you saw how difficult your situation is then you’d find the difficult words and look up what they mean.

Satan is a deceiver. The Lord Jesus pointed this out as we read in John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning , and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Satan will put all sorts of objections in your mind to stop you trying to find out the truth.

God gives truth John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Satan says NO! Do as you please. No rules. Evolutionary thought removes restraint and responsibility. People laugh and mock at Genesis/creation. Atheism - not believing in God is the mother of Anarchy.

Where do trains run best? Trains run best on rails. Once a train comes off the rails, at best its' wheels dig into the ground and the train stops. At worst the train is smashed in pieces.

People are taught that it’s OK to do as you please. Mark 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

God says that what comes out of our sinful hearts, our thoughts, words and actions defile us in His sight.

God made us and rightly expects us to obey Him. Anything that goes against this is corrupt and offensive to God.

Gods Law consists of ten commandments, ten rules that govern how we are to relate to God and to each other.

The Ten Commandments are not just about outward things - they cover our actions, our words and our thoughts. If we are honest we have to admit that we’ve broken most if not all of them. Psalms 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. Wicked here is not a good thing to be called. A wicked person in the Bible is someone in a terrible position - under Gods anger. Only God can deliver such a person. There is no escape any other way. Satan tells people they’ll be OK but it’s a lie.

The Lord Jesus came into the world to save from sin and judgement those who are under the condemnation and anger of God. Sin is disobedience to Gods law, missing the standard of absolute perfection that God rightly expects from us all. The Lord Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty that sinners deserve because of their sin. The Lord Jesus died as a substitute for sinners.

The true way to God centers on realising that we are sinful, that we have broken Gods law, fallen short of His perfect standard and that we are under Gods righteous judgement - this is the beginning. Then, seeing our state before God we must ask Him for forgiveness and seek to turn away from all that angers Him. Trusting The Lord Jesus alone to cleanse us from our sin and to cover us with His righteousness alone. The perfect righteousness of The Lord Jesus Christ is the only righteousness that is acceptable to God.

The Lord Jesus brings all who trust Him alone to peace with God. this is the only true way to God.

Are you in this way?