The One and Only True God
Don Sanders, Cherokee 1/14/2018
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: Deut 6:4
I want to share some thoughts from a scripture in the Old Testament that was true then and is still true today. The scripture reads, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.” Deut 6:4
God reminded His people (Israel) whom He had just delivered from their bondage in Egypt, of a land that worshiped many gods. He wanted them to be prepared to go into a land where the people also worshiped other gods. He reminds them not to forget the God who delivered them.
It was believed that the more gods they had and worshiped the more secure, strong, and better off they were. But, God is reminding His people, and saying remember I’m the one who through Moses delivered you from bondage. It was not any of their gods, I’m the God who changed your lives from bondage in Egypt, and will lead you into a land of milk and honey, a good land. Today in different countries, and even America, people worship other gods, not the true God of the Bible.
In the book of Exodus we read about how God delivered His people. What God did to free them, no man or king could perform any of those events. The Bible says that they came out of Egypt with a high hand (Ex 14:8), changed from slaves, to victors.
Well what has all the have to do with today? Men today, whether they will admit it or not, are in bondage, trying everything to satisfy themselves with things as wealth, fame, riches, material things, religion, drugs, alcohol, sex, and you name it. The only one that can truly satisfy and change a life is the God of this Bible. Based on the word of God (not my thoughts) the real evidence of a Christian is a 'changed' life.
In the Book of Acts the 9th chapter (Acts 9:4-7) we have an example, you find the story of Saul (later known as Paul) and how his life was changed when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:20-22). In the book of Philippians the 3rd chapter (Phil 3:5-7) Paul says “I was one of the best religious persons of all time. I had all the requirements it took to prove I was of the tribe of Benjamin. I had lots of zeal, I was very strict concerning ceremonies, I even cut myself.” Paul goes on to say in Philippians, that after the Damascus Road experience my life was changed.
To hopefully make my point a little clearer let me share my experience and testimony with you. As a young boy growing up, our home was not a Christian home. I can remember weekends were spent with mom away from the house down by a little creek. Sometimes I wondered why, but then it was fun throwing rocks and playing in the water. Mom would always have something to eat. I would just think of it as a picnic. I know now that mom was protecting me from being exposed to the awful, wicked things alcohol can cause. I will not go into detail you probably get the picture, and know what I mean.
I can’t say when (I was not there) my dad met and gave his life to the Lord, accepted Him as his only Lord and Savior. All I can truly remember was the ‘change’ that was made in our home. God made a ‘change’ in my dad’s life, instead of hiding down by the creek on weekends; I remember mom and dad walking to church and me riding on his shoulders.
Now my dad was a member of the Nighthawks. Their religious ceremonies were the Stomp Dance which consisted of a time of purification / cleansing. None of these ceremonies when practiced made a change. God made the change in my dad’s life. I know this to be true because I personally participated int these 7 day meetings. The results were when they were over, no change, not until I was introduced to the God of this Bible and by faith accepted Him as my Lord and Savior, according to he word in Romans 10:8-13 , which tells me that whosoever shall believe in his heart, that Jesus died for his sins and rose again confess with his mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, shall be saved (Rom 10:9-10). Verse 13 again says that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom 10:13). I’m glad I’m a whosoever. God has made the ‘change’ in my life.
I remember visiting with a man on one of the reservations one day. I stopped to invite him to come to a revival. He was respectful and told me of his church which consisted of purification / cleaning in the sweat lodge, and how he had tried to get his sons to go. He went on to say they did go, but there did not seem to be any change. I did my best to tell him (respectfully) that religion rituals, and ceremonies cannot change the inward soul of a person only God can and will if we will let Him. I remember his words as I left “You know you may have something there.” This gentleman did not attend our revival that week, but hopefully a seed was planted, someone watered it, and God has gotten the increase.
I pray that whoever will read this, who has never trusted in God and feels the desire for change in their life will consider learning more about the God of this Bible.
Psalm 40:7; Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Pastor Don Sanders, Chuculate Baptist Church - Stilwell, Oklahoma
Published by permission - GW - Victory Ministries of Middle TN - VMMTN.COM
Thanks for Taking Five - God bless and bless GOD
