Don’t Be Mislead And Dead!

Good News – February 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Don’t Be Mislead … And Dead!

Offer Of Help
A severe snowstorm made the progress of a train more and more difficult. Visibility was very poor, and a woman passenger with a child was concerned about missing her stop. Seeing her anxiety, a gentleman said to her, “Don’t worry. I know this route well. I’ll tell you when to get off.”

At the last stop before the one the woman wanted, the gentleman told her, “The next station will be yours.” When the train stopped again, he said, “This is your stop. Get out quickly.” The woman took her child, thanked the gentleman for his kind interest, and got off the train.

The next time the train stopped, the gentleman was shocked to hear the conductor call out the name of the station the woman wanted. “You must be mistaken. Didn’t we just stop there?” he asked.

“No, sir,” was the conductor’s reply. “We had a problem with the engine and stopped for a few minutes to repair it.”

Tragic Result
“Oh no!” cried the gentleman. “I told a woman and child to get off at the stop between stations!” When they finally found her and the child, both were frozen to death.

As horrible as this is, it is far worse to misdirect the souls of men. There are many well-meaning but contradictory voices around us today, and many of them are giving false and misleading directions. Where eternal life and salvation are concerned, we must be sure we are listening to the right directions. We don’t want to be misled for eternity.

Beware Of False Teachers
1. Some claim that the teachings of their leader are greater than the teaching of the Bible (Col. 2:8).

2. Some claim that their doctrines are based upon special revelation – given to their leader or group – that supersedes the teachings of the Bible (Rev. 22:18-19).

3. Some lower Christ to merely a created person, while raising up man to be a god (2 Jn. 7).

4. Some teach that Christ’s work on the cross was not sufficient to secure our salvation, and that we must supplement it by our own efforts (Eph. 2:4-10).

5. Some over-emphasize single portions of Scripture while disregarding related parts of God’s Word (2 Tim. 3:16).

We should not follow the advice of false teachers, no matter how sincere they sound or how kind they appear. Where we spend eternity – in heaven or in hell – is far too important a matter to entrust to just anyone!

Sure Direction
Thank God, there is no need for us to depend upon doubtful direction. In His sure Word He has given us simple directions for the way to heaven. It is definitely not the way of doing our best, of following a man or of joining a group or organization. None of these ways will lead us to heaven.

We have all wandered too far from God for any such directions to help us: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23 NKJV). The Word of God points us to Christ alone as “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn. 14:6). No one can get to heaven except through Him.

He suffered and died – not as a martyr, but as the sin-bearer – to cleanse us from sin by His blood (1 Pet. 3:18; 1 Jn. 1:7). Now risen from the dead, He is proclaimed to all as the only way to true happiness and eternal life.

The Bible says, “All the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission [forgiveness] of sins” (Acts 10:43). Could anyone say it more plainly?

Listen to the sure direction of God’s Word and escape being misled. Christ is the only One who could truthfully say, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Follow Him today. He will bring you safely home to heaven. He will not mislead you. He will not leave you out in the cold! We can tell you more.

This article was adapted from a longer tract by the same title, available from Grace &Truth.