Who Came Before
63
Thieves and Robbers
Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
How many saviors came before Jesus? This would include Isis, Osiris, Horus, Buddha, Vishnu, Brahma, Zeus, etc. . . There were many different false gods and false saviors that came before Jesus, yet none of them claimed to be who Jesus is. Jesus calls them thieves and robbers, so we must also call them thieves and robbers. Anyone who accepts them, accept thieves and robbers as their god. Now the question is, who would want to worship and follow a thief?
Thieves usually hang out in gangs. They hang out with other thieves generally because no one else wants to hang out with them. They also raise other thieves in their children because kids generally want to be like dad. So it seems to me that anyone who follows one of these false gods must also be a thief. They may not steal your money or break into your house and steal from you in that sense, but they would rob you of your soul in a heart beat.
Many make the claim that reincarnation is right and very real. They state that you will come again in a new body over and over until you get everything right. Some even twist words of the Bible to make it seem that this is the right way.
The Word
Jesus was very straightforward in the Word of God. He didn't generalize everything as many would have you to believe. Just as God gave Noah specific instructions, Jesus also gave us specific instructions. In fact, Jesus is the Word of God. The fact that you might not believe that, does not negate the fact that He is.
Jesus is the only one who has descended into the depths of hell and came out again on His own power. I can imagine Him walking around radiating a bright light from his body and the fallen angels closing their eyes for his brightness. Also, knowing the angels are chained up awaiting judgment, they had never seen anyone walking around down there either.
There is only one way to God. Jesus made it plain and simple to understand. (Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.)
All other ways are the ways of thieves and robbers who only want to destroy.( Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ) Once again, Jesus makes it known that He is the only way.
It is a very easy task to follow a leader who says to just do whatever you want to do, everything will be OK. It requires nothing of the one following. People will do whatever they were taught to do. If they are taught to steal, then they will steal. It is in their nature and has been instilled and worked on for their entire lives. Skills are honed to precision. This is just how it is with everyone.
There are none that can change the person into another being except for Jesus Christ. He can change you from being a thief, to being a holy and righteous being. He can take your sins and cast them away, as far as the east is from the west. No other can do that because as Jesus stated Himself, "They are thieves and robbers."
The Way
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus made it very clear, He is the way and the only way. No one can come to God, but through Him (Jesus). All others who came before are thieves as was stated earlier, and all who come after are thieves also. Currently some are calling our President-Elect Barack Obama, SAVIOR. I am not sure if he condones that title or not. Those who call him savior are thieves. If he preaches any other way that the way set out by Jesus Himself, he is likewise, a thief.
It is not too late my friend to change. No one can change you except Jesus Himself. (2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) The time is now. Salvation is only a prayer away. He awaits your response to His calling. You have to make the choice. It is time to stop being a thief and a liar and come to know Jesus and walk in truth. It is time to come out of darkness and walk in the light.
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Comments
Thanks for the read and comemnt ASU. I know what you mean. If I am correct by memory, Muslims also think that good works will get you to heaven. They say that if you do more good things than bad things, you will make it.
This actually brought up an interesting discussion once a few years ago. My question was, "Are you saying that I could rape a child then feed two children and repeat that over and over then I could make it just because two good things outweigh one bad thing?"
It kind of went to pot after that. Once again, thanks for stopping by.
That's a good question as far as the 'works gets to you heaven' beliefs out there. Keep standing! God is using you!!
I cannot stand on any other ground. It is way too shaky for me.
\o/
LOL ASU. \o/ I concur. ;)
One Day, every knee will bow and every tounge will confess - Jesus Christ is Lord!
What a day that will be.
SirDent;
Thanks for alerting me to this hub. It is very well written, clear and accurate to the Word of God, as usual. I can see how this hub might make some of the thieves a little nervous and testy. Thanks for standing up and saying the truth, despite its clear unpopularity with many on hp. God bless you.
Honestly I doubt anyone literally believes that Barack Obama is their spiritual savior, and what they mean he is a release from eight years of a blundering president. There are many forms of the word saver, such as life saver. A life saver is a flotation device that saves peoples' lives in the water, but it has nothing to do with spiritual saving per sae.
BDazzler. I agree because God said it will happen.
ASU, it certainly will be a glorious day when it happens.
VP, I know it won;t be popular, but I must speak truth as you well know. I have to do it. I feel like Jeremiah at times. if I don't speak it, I feel like there's a fire shut up in my bones.
You may be right Sweetie. I had to have an example to use and Obama was the first to come to mind. Thanks for the read and comment. :)
Good hub though I must say :). People use the word savior too much anyway. Good to get us thinking.
I agree with that Sweetiepie.
How can anyone use the word 'saviour' too much?
She is talking about how people use it to describe lots of different people Molly. Thanks for stopping by.
I'd have more time for this if you'd prefaced the whole thing with the words "This is what I believe". But you didn't. You just launched straight into attack. No-one, or hardly anyone, I think, worships the ancient Egyptian and Greek gods any more. These countries have largely moved over to Islam and Christianity. But huge numbers of Buddhists and Hindus follow gods you have just dismissed as robbers and thieves. Then you go on to dismiss the followers as robbers and thieves also. Once again, your preference seems to be to insult and belittle your fellow creatures. I put it to you that you will win no converts for your god in this way.
Thanks for the read and comment Paraglider.
Any time! You know I'm always on hand to flag up your more extremist outbursts :)
I always welcome your comments Paraglider.
Psalm 35:9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD ? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."
p.s. Sir D - when I said 'flag up' I just meant it coloquially - I haven't 'flagged' the hub in the technical sense.
I knew what you meant, Paraglider. ;)
ASU, I always appreciate scriptures. Thanks for posting them here. :)
SirDent, if I am out of line, please forgive me, and I promise not to be offended if you delete this comment.
Para Said:"I put it to you that you will win no converts for your god in this way."
SirDent previously said: "I must speak truth as you well know. I have to do it. I feel like Jeremiah at times. if I don't speak it, I feel like there's a fire shut up in my bones."
Para, SirDent is not trying to "Win Convernts" as much as he is compeled to speak truth. When the Holy Spirit moves in what you have called in the past "Eccstatic Experience" (I think) this fire in the bones is truly difficult to contain. This is just truth. If it wins converts, awesome. If not ... well, truth was out there.
One of the things I do appreciate about sirDent is that he does not try to make things look nice just to get "converts". He tells the truth as he sees it. For example, I did think his abortion post was a bit rough, but when I saw the compassion he spoke to Misty about it, I understood the whole picture a bit better.
There are others who can and do choose words more carefully. But, when the fire is pent up in your bones, you gotta let it out. I'm not saying he has no control or is not responsbile for his words. I am saying that there are more factors than are obvious from your point of view that go into his wording.
Para, I hope I was respectful.
Again, SirDent, forgive me if I am putting words in your mouth or not representing you properly.
Bdazzler, I appreciate your encouraging words and praise, but the praise belongs only to Him. I feel I must also add, that none are converted with lies and deceit. It is the Holy Ghost who does the converting. He never lies, for He is God.
Yes, I agree with that.
Well, BDazzler, that's fine up to a point, but you're telling me that it is not Sir Dent who is speaking, but the'fire in his bones' aka the holy spirit. And of course the holy spirit cannot lie. Therefore Sir Dent speaks not for god, but as god. Therefore he is god? Unless of course we allow the possibility that he misinterprets (I know he doesn't deliberately misrepresent) the fire in the bones? If this is a possibility then he should not claim to speak truth.
I must say your defence reminded me of KoKo's defence (for inaction) in the Mikado -
"If your Majesty says let a thing be done, it is as good as done, for your Majesty's word is law. If it is as good as done, practically, it is done. And if it is done, why not say so?
That's really not what it is. We're back to describing the rhino. It's hard to explain unless you've actually had that fire in the bones. Unless certain things are said, the fire stays. So in a way you are right, this is the "Thus Saith The Lord" thing you see in OT prophets.
It's more like this God speaks to SirDent so strongly, that the words have to go somewhere. If you try not to speak it builds up. He's not God and there is allowance for error.
It's like the keyboard I'm typing on right now, it's not me. Nobody would mistake the keyboard for me. Between me and you there are thousands of little things that could go wrong (server problems, relay issues etc.) these may cause my message to be skewed. Also, the media limits full communication. You don't see my body language facial experessions etc.
It's an imprefect metaphor, but it's the best one I can think of at the moment. It's hard to explain without a common context.
it's too bad that you feel it necessary to attack other religions in order to feel your faith. I wonder why Rev Joel Oysteen feels that it is unecessary to launch such attacks against religions that have been around for thousands of years.
In fact, sir, it would seem that we should rather be promoting tolerance as an example of love, rather than hate. Every religion in the world, of any validity, promotes love of god and your neighbor.
Vrajavala, you will have to ask Joel Osteen that question. Not all religions promote love your neighbor.
Could I love my neighbor if I continually allow him to believe a lie? The time of salvation has come. It is here right this minute.
SirDent,
This is another very well written and to the point hub. Thank you for sharing again the only way to heaven. No need for me to add anything to your work.
Thank you and God bless. ~ eddie
SirDent, If you continually allow your neighbor to lie, then you don't love him, you do harm to him. Call it 'tolerence' or whatever word you want to put there, but all you are doing in accepting that is accepting evil. Evil = satan. So, if you don't help your neighbor see the error their ways, you don't love them. What is the saying about the blind leading the blind? Also if you accept things you know are wrong, then you are a part of the wrong then, too. That is sin in your life. If you love your neighbor, you help them by seeing what they are doing wrong and help them to do better. You do a lot of helping me. Thank you.
Thank you Eddie for the encouraging comment. I always love it when you visit my hubs and comment. I want you to know also that I can take criticism if you deem it necessary. I am far from perfect you know. :P
ASU, your answer is right on spot. It seems most want us to allow them to believe the lies and not tell the truth. In the day and time we live, everything is said to be objective, relative, or subjective. If a person really thinks about it in that way, there is nothing really true. It actually makes no sense at all.
Thanks for stopping by once again. I really appreciate it.
Sir Dent - one last attempt to moderate your terms. If I speak the truth as I see it, I am not lying. Lying is deliberate falsehood, spoken to deceive. W've already established that even you can be mistaken. So can others. In calling everyone who disagrees with you a liar (or even a thief) you are being unjust and judgmental.
Paraglider, I understand what you are saying. At the same time I also understand that when something become subjective, objective or relative, it is no longer what it started out to be. If you look at anything in those ways, it is merely man's opinion.
As far as me calling people liars and theifs, those words are the words of Jesus Himself.
allshookup says:
13 months ago
Great work. Well thought out and well written. I've never thought of it that way. But, you are 100% right. All of those 'gods' only want to take (steal) your soul and send it to hell. That is their goal.
Those people who believe in reincarnation make me very leary. Since some feel they have to have good karma to come back as a richer or higher-up person, they are nice and good natured people. But why? Are they nice to me because they are nice people and like me or are they pretending to be nice because they want to come back richer and higher-up than they are now? It makes me not trust them because I don't know their motive due to their beliefs. The Bible says that it is appointed unto man ONCE to die, and after that, the judgment.
About Obama, he has said that his grandmother didn't go to church or talk about Jesus or profess Him as her Savior, but he felt that since she did good works, that he was sure that she's in Heaven. This is not right at all. This is very decieving of him. Works will get no one to Heaven. They are as filthy rags in the eyes of God if we are not saved. I keep hearing that he is going to be sworn in with the karan, not the Bible. I pray for God's mercy on our nation for electing a person who would do that and have those beliefs.
It's so simple. There is only ONE way into Heaven. And that is Jesus Christ. Not works, not 'my god' or 'your god'. There are not many gods and many ways to Heaven. Although that seems to be the popular belief now all around the world. What is true is not popular today. But, then again, when Jesus walked the earth, it wasn't popular then either, but it's still just as true today as it was then.
All we need is Him and His Word to know what we need to do and what we need to be. The Bible is the only Road Map we need to Heaven. I'm so thankful we have it. And most of all, I'm thankful for Jesus and His unconditional love for us who do not deserve it at all.
All of those theives (gods- any thing or one besides Jesus Christ) seem to be doing well for themselves with so many followers. What will they say to their followers once they are dead and have no chance to make a decision to chose Jesus?