Morally good, but "Lost"

Thursday 3-10-16 (La Lucila, Buenos Aires)    

Scripture reading for today:  Deut 13 – 15   Gal 1

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Deut 13:1-4 "If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods' — which you have not known — 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Gal 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. NKJV

O.  Today’s reading in both the Old Testament and the New Testament dealt with false prophets that would tend to lead God’s people astray.  I read the OT portion first and immediately thought of the “prophet” Joseph Smith who claimed to be led by an angel to a place where he dug and discovered golden tablets with strange writing.  Then with some miracle glasses he could read and translate these writings into his “new bible”, the Book of Mormons.  His story was never confirmed.  No one has ever seen these tablets of gold or his miracle glasses.  His “new Bible” was dictated entirely by himself.  It taught that he could have many wives which was contrary to civil laws that had been based on the New Testament Christian gospel.  So in order to have as many wives as he liked, he fled to a distant Utah and started a new religion among his many wives and children.  His converts also had many wives and children... so his doctrine multiplied quickly and today is taught to children who are encouraged to spread their “modified” doctrine world-wide... “modified” to adapt to the laws of the lands that prohibit polygamy and racial prejudice.

A.  How many thousands of good, sincere people have swallowed a story filled with a false prophet’s dreams or writings such as those written by Joseph Smith and Mohammed!  Most of these people have been taught to believe these twisted doctrines from childhood!  May God have mercy upon them!  And may I never be led astray even by an angelic being!  The Apostle Paul faced a similar problem.  False prophets were coming behind him and leading his new converts astray.  The enemy of our souls seeks out unsatisfied people to make into his “prophets”. 

P.  Lord Jesus, help me to preach only Your wonderful truth, always using Your Holy Word as my guide.  And may many people who have been led astray now hear Your message and open their hearts to You.  You are still in the business of saving the lost. The “lost” are not all drug addicts, drunkards or wicked people.  Many good moral people are “lost” in a tangle of false doctrine... promoted by some self-made “prophet or dreamer of dreams.”  Have mercy on these dear “lost” people, I pray!  Amen.

Ralph