Why do men believe the things they believe when it comes to religion? Some just do not talk about such things, while others will say, "Well, that is what my family has always done."
With something as important as a person’s eternal destiny, one would think more thought would go into the subject.
The Bible tells man what is right and what is wrong. Man has tried to say there are no wrongs, but that simply is not true. Paul wrote that all scripture is from God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He also gave the admonition to study the word (2 Timothy 2:15), yet many just rely on what someone else says or does. That is not a safe way to follow God.
Jesus said that while he was on Earth there were those whose worship was vain, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9).
If it were possible when Jesus was on Earth, is it not reasonable to believe it could be the case today?
Some believe that with all the billions of people in the world, that there has to be many ways to follow God. That statement 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" (Jeremiah 10:23).
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).
He also 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).
God is the one who created man. He is the one who gave man the way of salvation. Why not trust his word?
In the Lord’s prayer before his crucifixion, he prayed, "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 praying for man to be one, it would seem that all men would seek to follow him, as he desires.
Men need to take the time to think about their souls, and then pick up God’s word to see what it is God wants. He wants all to be saved, but he leaves it up to man to decide whether to obey.