Stay on Track

For this topic I want to use 2 versions of the Bible. I liked how the Amplified broke it down, but I know it can get a bit wordy, so I am also going to include the NIV version as well.

Colossians 2:4-10

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁴I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech.

⁵For though I am away from you in body, yet I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your [standing shoulder to shoulder in such] orderly array and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness of your faith in Christ [that ^[a]leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

⁶As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.

⁷Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

⁸See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

⁹For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

¹⁰And you ^[b]are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

Colossians 2:4-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁴ I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of this world rather than on Christ.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Today's society is filled with all kind of theories and philosophies on who God is, who Jesus is, what being a Christian is, and what is and isn't acceptable according to the word of God. But we need to be mindful that we are sticking to what God's word says and not just what some deep thinker has decided they wanted God to be saying.

For example, not that long ago we experienced a "prophecy" (and I use that term VERY loosely) that the world was due to end on a particular day and time. May 21, 2011 to be exact. I don't remember the time, but I remember being at Beachfest in a crowd, cheering on God that only he knew the day and time. This is what my bible tells me:

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

² For you yourselves know full well that ^(A)the day of the Lord ^[a]will come ^(B)just like a thief in the night. ³ While they are saying, “^(C)Peace and safety!” then ^[b](D)destruction ^[c]will come upon them suddenly like ^(E)labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in ^(F)darkness, that the day would overtake you ^[d](G)like a thief;

I don't know about you. I don't have an extensive amount of experience in being robbed, HOWEVER, I can't recall anyone ever stating that they knew the exact day and time they were going to be robbed....Do you? So, I'm thinking that Jesus coming like a thief in the night means exactly that, he is not going to be announcing his arrival and we should not be expecting it. But just like protecting our homes, we need to protect our souls on a daily basis and just be ready for him to show up.

We all have to be mindful of what we allow to even ever so slowly creep into our spirits. Everyone has an idea or an opinion about God...people at work, the media, entertainers, pastors, teachers, counselors, you name it! But, the big question is where are they building that from. There is probably a bible verse for just about anything you can experience. Because God made sure to let us know that there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

And there are some things that people can flip and flop any way they want, but there is no way to deny that God said NO to certain things, if you are really reading God's word. Our culture just doesn't want to accept that for an answer.

So I encourage you to stay in prayer about the things you encounter on a daily basis. Don't just take everyone at their word, including me. Test it against what God has to say. Even my pastor requests that we go and research it for ourselves, because in the end...we are only human. We can dink it up, but when you are listening to God, he'll point you in the right direction. We as Christians have been given a spirit of discernment and when something doesn't seem right, we need to sniff it out and set it straight.

I don't want to get caught up in every rad fad of thought and spirituality. I want to do my very best to be consistent in my walk and keep moving in the direction that God has laid out for me. That doesn't mean that we won't have moments where we question God, that is our nature. But being willing to listen for HIS answers is how we stay on track.

Pastors, preachers, teachers, and counselors come and go, change their thoughts, and get swept up in the matters of life, but God and his word are always the same; from the beginning of time until the day Jesus comes back (like a thief in the night.)