Religious Yet Wrong - Lee Brainard
One of the main differences between a relationship with God and religion is repentance. This is why being religious is much more popular than cultivating a relationship with God. Man likes to go his own way. Religion encourages this behavior for it winks at his sin.
Noah and his family weren’t the only ones in church Sunday morning. But they were the only ones in the ark when the heavens were opened, the fountains of the deep were broken up, and the world was destroyed by the great flood. What was the difference? Noah preached right living and coming judgment. The world laughed at his message. God was a nice guy. He wouldn’t judge wrong living. Besides, most of the wrong stuff they indulged wasn’t really wrong.
Likewise, when men stand before the Lord at the end of the age, many shall find themselves excluded when they thought they would be included. “Not everyone that says Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but only those that do the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say Lord, Lord, we taught in your name and did many wonderful works. And I will say, I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of iniquity.” (Matt. 7:21-23). They were religious, yet wrong. Man must forsake his sin. This isn’t man saving himself by works religion. This is man saying “yes” to grace (Tit. 2:11-13).
~Lee Brainard, June 27, 2015
