As the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Joshua told them this: "...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served...or the gods of the Amorites...But as for me and my household, we will serve [Yahweh] (Joshua 24:15).
And David, in Psalm 16: "I said to [Yhwh], 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing'...The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips....I will praise [Yhwh] who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me....You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
At the Last Supper, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, Who would lead us into all truth. It seems clear that we must choose our Source of Truth -- either the Spirit of God to teach us, or "other gods." When we choose Yahweh, He is faithful to place in our hearts His own Spirit of Truth and of righteousness. The first letter of St. John to the church is worth reading, because he has much to say about how we can recognize the Spirit of Truth:
...do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world (4:1-2).
That is very practical advice. The Spirit that comes from God obviously cannot testify against Jesus Christ. Nor can He accept the "truth" of the world. If we want to "test" the spirits around us, we need to bring them to the Holy Spirit and ask for His enlightenment on them. If we cannot bring ourselves to do this, we will forever be following blind guides. But Jesus promised that if we ask, we would receive -- and receive not something deceptive, something that looks like the Truth, but is a masquerade for Truth: Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" (Luke 11).
In our culture, we are far removed from the Middle East, where eels are considered a delicacy, but look like snakes. Or where a rolled-up scorpion resembles an egg. And because these are not everyday experiences for us, it is hard for us to "get it" in these words of Jesus. But He is promising that the Spirit given to us will lead us into truth, not deception that looks like truth.
Can we trust God to give us what He promised us?
Unfortunately, there are many false prophets who say the name of Jesus, but lead people on an anti-Christian path. It seems that this would be the worst form of blasphemy.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to have human guides who study and follow the faith that they profess to have. This seems to be true discipleship. thank you for your continued guidance.