It is very popular in our culture today for people to say they are attempting to become more spiritual. It is greeted with general acceptance when people claim to have come to a realization that materialism in its many forms is not the chief end of man, and decide that perhaps spirituality is what’s missing in their lives . Many today are claiming to have experiences with God. There is indeed a trend towards the spiritual in American culture today. We are encouraged by talk show hosts and self-help gurus alike to return to traditional values, begin to pray, have faith and seek after God. Sounds pretty good huh?
Jesus said that no man can come to the Father (God) except through himself. He told the Jews at one point that if they were truly hearing from God, if they were taught of God as they claimed; they would believe in him because he was sent by God. Jesus said that the Father himself testifies that he (Jesus) is the way by which men can come into relationship with God. Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit testifies concerning him. He said the Spirit would glorify him. Jesus also told the people that if they truly understood scripture they would believe in Him. The point I’m trying to make is that if we are truly having a “spiritual awakening,” if we really are in touch with and hearing from God; it will be centered on the person of Jesus. Trying to be more spiritual without an intimate relationship with Jesus is really just another way of being religious.
It is vastly unpopular today to claim to know something absolutely. It is frowned upon by the majority of the populace when some one claims that this or that is the only way. However, that it is exactly what Jesus did. He said I am the way, the truth and the life. The apostle John, in his writings, tells us that you can’t have the Father without Jesus. We find that any one who does not confess that Jesus is the Christ, God who took on a real flesh and blood body, is not of God. I know you’re not supposed to say stuff like that nowadays, but it’s true. John tells us that if you have Jesus you have eternal life. He put it like this: “…for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1John 5:9-12)
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