WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE

Where we spend eternity and the peace that we have inside ourselves depends primarily on a single decision that you make here in this world: the decision of whether of not we will accept  the path that God has laid out for us to take.

If we obey the pre-determined logic of our computer systems
 then we usually get the results that we want.  If we provide our automobiles with the proper fuel, maintenance and care according to the rules of the manual we usually get worry free performance.  If we construct a building in accordance with the engineering rules that the engineer lays down, then usually the building will withstand a certain degree of wind without collapsing.  If we take the time to maintain our relationships with loved ones according to the commonly known rules of courtesy, preference and honor, we usually get the result of happy relationships.  The pattern we see here is that everything in life usually has a definite right and a definite wrong way in which something must be done.  Also, we notice that someone who has studied or manufactured a given "thing" has established the rules for what makes the "thing" work at it's very best.  Also, these "someone's" usually write down an instruction manual for the best way, and sometimes only way, to make the 'thing" operate.  The choice then becomes whether the person reading the instruction manual will heed the instructions found therein.

Now there are several things that become curious at this point. 
 Usually no one reading these instruction manuals for "things"  ever seriously doubts
     (1.) that there was a knowledgeable writer,
     (2.) that there was a very good reason for what the writer wrote or 
     (3.) that they will get the results that they want if they follow the instructions. 

 In fact we very ardently expect that the written instructions must be correct.  Now notice that we are expecting this "perfect knowledge" about the "thing" in question from a "someone" who is merely human like ourselves. Further, if we're honest, we will admit that most of the problems that we encounter with our "things" have to do with either our lazy unwillingness to read all the instructions or our unwillingness to follow that which we do read.  Either way, most of the malfunctions of our "things" have to do with "our" problems not the "thing's." problems.  When this happens, we have to take the "thing" to the repair shop for a technician or specialist to fix it in accordance to "someone's"  pre-determined specifications. We, like these "things", have to go to God for repairs caused from our own or someone else's "sins" (pride, selfishness, self-absorption). When we realize that our life isn't "running right" it's smart to go to God for repairs.

There are really four spiritual laws that rule our path to peach with God.

Why is it then, that so many people are trying to find 
some way to PEACE with GOD besides His way.  If you're reading this then you're probably searching for something to fill an unexplainable void in your life.  You know that you're not at peace with life and you're feel that if you can just find God then maybe this void will go away...well, you're right.  The Holy Bible contains instructions on how to find Peace with God. 

Was the bible compiled by man? Yes. Somebody had to write down the words, there is no textually internal or external indication that an angel or other heavenly creature did the writing.  Of course man did the compiling. So what? Question: If a spaced-out drug addict managed to accurately write down instructions about how to repair a washing machine that were dictated to him by a appliance repair man, would the instructions be any less true? No. We doubt the reliability of ancient text because we know man has an uncanny need to worship something to give his life meaning, and so we are right to skeptically and objectively  doubt either the message or the messenger.  Now in the case of the drug-addict we may have cause to believe that his writings may have been written while he was on a "trip." this would be logical.  Likewise in the case of ancient writings the writer may have "created" a belief system that to him or her is divinely inspired because of a particular delusional state or mental illness.  Because of this, we can't judge the text based on the messenger at all.  We have to judge the text based on two or three objective tests. First, the Internal Test, does the content of the text verify itself, when one accepts the hypothesis that the text may be accurate. The Second is the External Evidence Test: does the content contained within the text bear true when compared against established scientific discovery and scientific law.  The Third test is the "Legend" Test. Were there enough contemporary original manuscripts of the ancient text that will allow us to verify that there is no "reasonable doubt" that the text in question is accurate without a substantial Legend or Myth being born out of and therefore modifying the original text. To keep this brief for your reading, let's only highlight a few "BIG" evidences that indicate the reliability of the Bible.

1. The Genesis Account of 7 days of creation: long sited by secular scholars as the External evidence that the Bible can't be true; these scholars accept the same fallacious mistake that fundamentalist scholars accept: A Day = 24 hours of time.  This has been ardently protected by fundamentalist Bible teachers as absolute truth.  Rather that absolute truth the holding to the idea of a "24 hour day of Creation" is dogma and doctrine, and is not absolute at all.  The Hebrew word for "day" can mean a 24 hour day or a undetermined period of time. Bible interpreters put a spin on the word for "day" not God.

2. The Ten Commandments: these basic moral and spiritual absolutes embody an basic ethic that is the cornerstone of all secular legal dealings. Especially the legal foundation of the American Experiment. (the United States of America)

3. The Food and Health laws. These food and health laws found in Leviticus were written nearly 5,000 before either Mohammed or Jesus of Nazareth begun their world religious movements. Knowledge of germs, cholesterol, saturated fats, mold and their affects on human beings were not to be discovered until 7,000 years after Leviticus was written. Yet, detailed in it's pages are healthy eating guidelines and cleanliness principles that were not discovered by the secular world until the 19th and 20th centuries.  How did the writer know about this?

4. Prophecies: There are prophecies that were item specific about world events given to the Jewish people in advance of the events. Far more than 100 item specific prophecies about the Messiah who was to come. Many of these prophecies could not be manipulated in any way by man. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled all of these Messianic prophecies in his life-time.

5. As expensive as paper was in the ancient world, so perfection-oriented were scribes to transfer Holy Writ accurately that if merely a "jot" which was a mark used to give vowel sounds to the written Hebrew language was left out when copying a text. The entire manuscript had to be thrown away as an "unclean" work that was corrupted and often was burned. For information it took weeks to manufacture a single sheet of paper (papyrus).

6. There are 20 - 3000 times more original manuscripts of the New Testament that of any other ancient text of its day. A phenomenal variance as to its accuracy.

7. Oral Tradition: like scribes, since books were non-existent, those who quoted Holy Scripture or the teachings of a Rabbi, would gather together and carefully in fear of the Almighty God, recount from memory every word so that they did not miss a single word.  To misquote the Holy Word was blasphemy.  Misquoting a holy Rabbi was seen as evil 

So, there are very brief indications above that are the tip of the "iceberg" for accepting what we call the Holy Bible as accurate enough to show us how to come into relationship with God.  The account here is very brief and by no means exhaustive.  However, the greatest External Evidence for the reliability of the Bible is Changed lives. 

In New Testament times, look at Saul who he reports that Christ changed his name to Paul. If you can today imagine a fundamentalist Islamic terrorist converting to Judaism because he says Allah appeared to him and told him to go give his life to save the Jews in Israel, you have begun to understand the incredible conversion of the man we now refer to as St. Paul or The Apostle Paul.  Read his conversion in the Book of Acts.

But Paul is not the only person who has had a spiritual epiphany experience with Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth (Yeshua Ha Machiach) there have been thousands who have and would die for Him, not because of a promise of paradise, but because they have "experienced" His presence within themselves.  He is a friend, a counselor, a lover, a brother, a parent and guide.  They would never disown Him, never!  Are there fake believers, out there trying to just get what they can from God? You bet Ya!  That maybe why you don't want to be named with them.

What's holding you back from experiencing God, I mean really experience Him.  Doubt? You can work though that by study. Fear?  You don't have to fear God, you only have to fear the Judgement of God, because He will hold you accountable to his moral guidelines. His moral guidelines look into your heart. You may have never killed anyone, but you do hate someone, so, in God's book you have Murder in your heart.  You may have never cheated on your spouse, but you either look at pornography or have a close "emotional" relationship with a co-worker of the opposite sex, you are guilty of Adultery.  God is pure and he will judge all sin, if the Bible is true, of course.

But don't wait until you "get good enough"...you will never get "Good Enough" and further more you don't need to get good enough.  God will accept you just as you are!  All you have to do is accept, by faith, that When Jesus died on the cross, he died for your sin.  If you will accept Jesus as your personal Savior, God will totally forgive and forget all that you've done wrong in life. But you have to do this by faith click here to read the scripture.

To make it easier for you, here are a few basic instructions to reach this peace and they're all for your benefit. Consider accepting the following 12 steps to Peace with God:

Simply Pray This Prayer aloud:
Lord, I realize I have sinned against you.  I need you to forgive me, please forgive me.  I receive you into my life and heart.  I ask you to be my Savior and Lord and ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit. 

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