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Where does your faith rest? Part 1
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Where does your faith rest? In other words, why do you believe the things you believe about religion and why do you profess to be a part of a certain group?
Over the years, these questions have been asked time and time again. Some don’t want to talk about such matters, which is a shame because so much relies on the answers to those questions. 
Isn’t it strange that people can tell you why they own certain kinds of automobiles or follow certain athletic teams, but they do not have a clue as to why they believe what they do about religion?
Some follow certain religious groups because their spouses or families always have done so. Others follow groups that are convenient to where they live.
With all that is at stake – the soul of the individual’s eternal abode – shouldn’t a person know more about why he or she follows a certain set of beliefs?
God’s word tells us that we can know what is right and what is wrong. When Jesus was on the earth, some people followed paths that differed from what God had commanded.
Notice what Jesus said about their worship: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). If it were possible for this to be the case when Jesus was on earth, is it not reasonable to believe it could be the case today. 
It has been said that with so many people alive today, there are so many beliefs so that all can follow God. That statement may sound good, but it has no biblical basis – it is the thought of man. 
Jeremiah wrote, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). 
While man may think there needs to be many ways to reach God, God’s way is the only way.
Jesus had something to say about this very subject: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
On another occasion, he spoke about the necessity of following his words: “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John 12:46 – 50).
Look in the Lord’s Prayer, which is found in John 17, to see that God wants all men to follow the same way.
Notice his words: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20, 21). With the Lord telling us these things, the importance of knowing where our faith rests is clear. It is a personal thing that each person must look at.
Next week, we will discuss how we can be certain of where our faith must rest.

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