Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

"When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said."¹

I have read how, "In the mid-1980s, an Avianca Airlines jet crashed in the mountains of Spain. Investigators reviewing the incident made a startling discovery. Recordings from the black box revealed that several minutes prior to impact, a computer-synthesized voice from the plane's automatic warning system told the flight crew on repeated occasion to 'Pull up!' The pilot, evidently thinking that the system was not functioning properly, switched the system off. Minutes later they plowed into the ground killing passengers as well as crew."²

It may be true that "all roads lead to Rome" even if part of the way is via the ocean, but it is not true that all religions lead to God and Heaven. When we decide to not listen to what God says about life beyond death, or deem that his Word is incorrect and make our own rules or decide for ourselves as to what qualifies one for entering God's heaven, we place ourselves above God and become a god unto ourselvesâ€"and are on a direct course for a lost eternity, separated from God and all that is godly and good, in the place that God's Word, the Bible, calls hell.

Jesus made it very clear when he said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father [God] except through me.³ And God's Word makes it very clear that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faithâ€"and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godâ€"not by works, so that no one can boast."⁴

Just as imperative as it is that pilots listen to their plane's warning system, so is it that we listen to God's "warning system" as found in his Word, the Bible.

For help to make sure you are following God's directives for life after death, be sure to read the article, "How to Know God and be sure you're a real Christian" at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the wonderful 'warning system' you have given to mankind via your Word, the Bible. Please give me a hunger to read, learn, and understand what you have to say thereinâ€"and the good sense to always adhere to and follow your instructions for this life as well as the life to come. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Exodus 8:15 (NIV).
2. Mike Benson, Oakhill Church of Christ, http://www.oakhillcoc.org.
3. John 14:6 (NIV).
4. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV).

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