What is settled truth? What God says, period!

Good Wednesday morning. I pray that you and yours are well on this March 10, 2010. I would hope that we all are aware that beliefs have consequences. A cursory reading of the recent DNA reports on King Tut's mummy demonstrates this truth in dramatic fashion. These tests indicate that this 19 year old ruler died from a combination of bad genes, bad bones, and a bad case of malaria. Where did this young man get all of this bad stuff? Researchers concluded that one of the predominate causes was his inherited genes from incestuous parentage. In other words, the practice of the King, Pharaoh, marrying his own sisters is one of the primary causes of King Tut's diseases and his early demise. Why did the Pharaoh marry his own sister when they were free to marry anyone they chose? Because beliefs have consequences. There are numerous theories but one that is included on every one's list has to do with the god and goddess concept. Since Pharaoh was believed to be an incarnation of a god then he would have to marry someone as close to a goddess as possible, therefore, the sister, coming from the previous god and goddess became the best candidate. That belief system was a way of life for them but as these tests prove, it was also a way of death.

One can only imagine that year after year this practice produced more and more polluted genes even as it was thought to be producing the next god or goddess. To me this report pretty much paints a picture of the Scripture that says: "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12) In the recent fiasco involving the run away automobiles, much has been said about how these new technologies are driven by intelligent programmed devices. One expert commented that we no longer depend upon a purely mechanical solution but rather the electronic control center or computer is what provides the instructions to all the variety of auto components. He went on to say that the older mechanical systems had been perfected over a 100 year period but the life cycle impact of unexpected glitches in the software is a brand new concern. Folks, it is not funny that people have been injured and some even killed as a result of these failures. However, I find it very ironic that we call these systems intelligent since causing a car to accelerate without warning isn't very intelligent at all. This entire episode reminded me of my many years spent in dealing daily with unexpected computer glitches and how that strange circumstances and unusual combinations of circumstances could cause programs to fail even though they had run for many months without a problem. The expert said we may not be able to predict the long term life cycle safety implications of these computer based control systems. In other words, we may not be nearly as smart as we think we are!

Trusting in computer programs and seeing them wreak havoc is small potatoes compared to matters of eternal significance. I remember a lady wrote a book about her supposed out of body trip she made to heaven. A popular talk show host interviewed her and I read the transcript of that interview. The interviewer asked what it was like, there in heaven. She said it was a place where everyone was welcome and no one was left out and the only test for being there was a person's treatment of others. The host was impressed because she said this is what she had believed all along. What one believes has consequences. Jesus, the greatest lover of humanity, and teacher of love for God and others, also loved enough to tell people the truth. He clearly laid out the only way that anyone can be made right with God. He made it personal. He said that unless one repents or turns away from their sinfulness and turns to God they are on the way to destruction. (Luke 13:3) What we believe about salvation and how it can become a reality has far greater implications than any other matter we might consider or contemplate. Our world likes the many roads to heaven theory or as Jesus called it, the broad way. Jesus said that many will make their way on the broad way but this leads only to destination destruction, and only those who get on the narrow way (trust in Him and Him alone) will make it to heaven. (Matthew 7:13) Folks, think about it, it does matter what we believe, and never forget, that our beliefs, just like King Tut and his ancestors, do have consequences! Amen. .......More later.