Yesterday, today, forever

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.  –Hebrews 13:8-9a (NIV)

It’s an old idea, perhaps out of vogue. The idea that there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach life. A way that provides a stable foundation and a way that crumbles in the storm. A truth and a lie. Far too many seem content to drift along as if it doesn’t really matter. They claim to be “spiritual but not religious”. They may claim to believe in some “higher power” but never invest in getting to know who or what that may be.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  –Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

Some of the people pursuing “new and improved” definitions of virtue and reality knew the truth at one time and left it behind. Some even continue to invoke the name of Jesus Christ, claiming to have discovered a more “enlightened” vision of what the Savior “really meant”.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  –Matthew 7:21 (NIV)

I don’t claim to have a perfect understanding of the mind of God, much less the inherent ability to flawlessly follow Him. Indeed, the breadth and depth of my knowledge has grown and evolved over time as He has revealed more and more of Himself to me, as has my desire and capacity to put His teachings into practice. The transformation has been one of the more exciting facets of our relationship.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.  –Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

But teachings that stand in direct opposition to the very clear words of Scripture are the product of false teachers, regardless of any name they may or may not invoke as their authority. There is no such thing as “my truth” or “your truth”. There is only truth. Learn it, live it, love it. To do otherwise is to take a risk we just can’t afford.