Through the centuries, most people have chosen to be guided religiously by guesswork, human reason, and speculation – human philosophy and “theology.”  Eve found out the hard way that God’s will is absolute and objective, not subjective and contradictory, when she ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:1-8).  Cain found out that one must offer sacrifices by faith, based on testimony, the command of God (Genesis 4:1-7; Hebrews 11:4; Romans 10:17).  Nadab and Abihu were destroyed by fire because they offered worship  which was not authorized by God, “which He commanded them NOT” (Leviticus 10:1). Naaman almost had  to persist in his leprosy, because (when told by the prophet to “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times”) he said, “Behold, I thought” (II Kings 5:11).  Saul was rejected as king over Israel because he “did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah,” though he claimed, “I have performed the commandment of Jehovah;” he had obeyed some but not all of God’s commandments.  He was asked, “Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of Jehovah?” (I Samuel 15:10-23).

Jesus Christ urged that we hear His words and DO them (Matthew 7:24-27).  Why?  For they shall judge us in the last day (John 12:48). He warned of sectarians, teachers of man-made doctrines; “if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).  The early church obeyed and continued “in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42).  Cornelius demanded “to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord” (Acts 10:33). Guesswork (subjective, divisive, and damning) would not do!

What has God said?  The Bereans demanded that Paul teach the truth of God, not speculations of men; “they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11); “the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Berea” (Acts 17: 13).  He was not ashamed to be a “thus saith the Lord” preacher, warning against “philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men…and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

Want to know the will of God for your life?  Want to go to heaven? Want to know how to please God?  Don’t guess.  LOOK IT UP!

Curtis Cates (Deceased and greatly missed)