NO SUBSTITUTES

There are some things you can not substitute in life but need the real thing.
You might be able to get by with artificial sweetener, recycled paper, used furniture, fake marble countertops, or a school teacher standing in for the actual teacher but when it comes to being a Christian there is no substitute for the Word of God, the Bible.

I love watching Christian television stations and there are several good ministers of the gospel who preach and teach over the airwaves. Most all of them will tell you to not substitute your "TV Bible time" for an actual getting alone with God time. This takes discipline because there is some real good teaching out there I enjoy watching. What is needed is to make a habit of getting alone with you,God, your Bible and a journal to write down thoughts. I enjoy doing this on my back porch or maybe up in a park somewhere.

Coca Cola advertises as "The Real Thing" and The Bible is the real thing too. Revelation 22:19(HCSB) says '

And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.' There is a church that claims to have "another testament of Jesus Christ". My friend, there is only one word of God not to be added to or taken away from. There truly is no substitute for the truth and promises found within its' pages. Satan would love to extinguish it and have it vanish from the Earth because through it we are saved and have eternal life in heaven. Lately the enemy is at work trying to get people to believe lies about marriage. It is like in the Garden of Eden when Satan appeared as a cunning serpent and deceived Adam and Eve. There the downfall of man all began. The truth of God was exchanged for lies straight from the enemy and the pit of a fiery hell. 1 Corinthians 16:13(NIV) says 'Be on your guard. Stand firm in your faith. Be courageous. Be strong.' 1 Peter 5:8(NLT) is a great verse to end with and it says ' Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.' Don't be led astray and fooled. Stay in the Bible and the truth will indeed set you free to recognize Jesus as Lord. PRAYER:Lord you indeed are the real thing. You are my hope and I trust no one else. It is only through you Lord that we are saved and have eternal life. I know the enemy is lying to millions of people and trying to get them to believe lies. Protect me and my family from ever being tricked by his schemes. In Jesus' name'. Amen.