Friday, October 11, 2013

Clean Water


Some may argue that all people are imperfect and therefore no religion can be perfect. While there is truth in that, by way of an illustration consider developing countries where clean, drinkable water is in short supply. Water filtration systems can range from primitive to the latest science has to offer. Out of desperation, some may drink water that is barely potable (safe to drink), perhaps even having noticeable suspended particles and sediment. Again, when you are desperate, you may accept it just to survive. But as soon as you can get cleaner water, wouldn't you? It is the same with religions today. Yes, everyone is imperfect. But when it comes to cleansed Bible truth, wouldn't you want to the cleanest you can get? Again, Jesus said that we would recognize the true Christian collective, the true brotherhood, the true religion by their “fruits,” their teachings, their lifestyle, their conduct.

Same point, different illustration:
While on a prolonged hike, you are temporarily "turned around" (lost) and have exhausted your water supply. Now, instead of just finding your way out of the woods, your primary focus is to find water. After a while, you come upon a flowing stream. Knowing full-well that this stream may have harmful micro-organisms, you weigh your options and determine that drinking it is the lesser of two evils. Once you finally make it back to camp, you open a bottle of purified water and begin drinking it. Now, you may conclude that the water from the stream actually tastes better than the water you know is more pure and better to for your health. So the question becomes, which is more important to you--taste or your health?

The way many people respond to logic verses their senses, it is evident that many do, in a spiritual sense choose to drink the better-tasting water, even though they are aware of the hazards. Jesus even acknowledged that many would choose the broad and spacious road (it is more comfortable and gives them more leeway). Additionally, Paul, a disciple of Jesus, wrote that some would rather have their ears "tickled" by drinking (listening to) spiritual water that tastes good instead of drinking truly healthy water (teachings that are truly based on scripture). The best choice any of us can make is to dump out the canteen of good-tasting stream water and drink only the most pure water we can get.

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