The Only Way
"The heart is deceitful above all, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) We must not be caught in the lie that we can change ourselves or reach higher levels of spirituality on our own, even by our most sincere efforts. Nothing we do in our own strength can bring us closer to God. If we try to control our sinful impulses and improve our habits, we are simply sitting on a powder keg of pride that will explode under us eventually. We must draw near to Him by accepting what Christ did for us on the Cross of Calvary, and that is the only way. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is too straightforward and simple for some. There are those who succumb to the temptation to add good works, philanthropy, and cultural sensitivity to the Good News. Some believe churches and Christians need to emphasize good and moral practices and do all they can to attract people or meet the needs of their communities. The Bible never teaches those things, but it stands on the s...