Distractions
Distractions
Distractions can keep you from being successful in life.
Some distractions are momentary and generally not very harmful. Somethings however, grab our attention and become part of our life. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but anything that keeps us from getting to the truth and living in a way that we stay on the road to heaven is a problem. Of course, you may not see it that way but heaven coach tries to encourage you and help in life’s journey. The way you (and most everyone) look at life is not the way God does unless you are already aligned with the God of heaven. The test and that is what life is requires you live for more than yourself and that you get into a relationship with God or you will be unsuccessful in life. As you fill your life with so many things there is indeed no time for God. It is your choice and it is extremely enticing to get involved in a “million” different things.
We go through life very quickly and so many things are interesting and gain our attention. Some distractions are difficult and heartbreaking. There are many things that bring us joy and that might be a hobby, sports, a relationship. The world is filled with many things that distract us and we get to choose how to use our time. If we can come to understand life’s purpose those things that are important to us might be quite different.
Distinctions and Consequences
There are certain distinctions that have great value and one is that in order to understand some fundamental law or rule requires that the implications or consequences of that rule be understood. E=IR is a relationship that is true in electrical analysis. Solving the equation for E (Voltage) is easy but what are the consequences of this equation in a specific application. That understanding even for such an easy equation really tells us if you understand the physics behind the equation. This is not the right place to discuss the consequences of this equation, but suffice it to say the correct understanding of the equation results in the efficient design of the power plant and the transmission lines that provides electricity to your home. So, the consequence of great understanding is a better outcome. Conversely, a poor understanding leads to undesirable and unwanted consequences. Here is a powerful distinction: You need to understand what you believe if you want a good result, a better outcome. It is not enough to understand the rule or the law but what is behind the rule, is it valid. In religion, emotions frequently play a big part but few understand what they believe and thus a bad outcome can be expected. One might say that religion is meant to be emotional, it is meant to be what you choose. However, is that the truth, is this the correct understanding about religion. Well one might say, “you really cannot know truth in religion!” Yet, is that statement true? What if your success in life was all about your attitude and part of that attitude was a love of the truth and that love of the truth came from some other special qualities that you possessed. The characteristics defining YOU were things like humility, a forgiving spirit, the courage to do the right thing, and a recognition that there is a God and you are His creation. Consequently, these characteristics made truth extremely important to you. Here is the important thing mentioned again for emphasis, namely you need to understand what you believe. Just shortly down this page there is a comparison between Islam (Mohammed) and Christianity (Jesus) to help understand these religions and not fall prey to the mindless cliché’s so frequently expressed.
How Do You Arrive At The Correct Understanding
The difference between FACTS and INTERPRETATIONS (or assumptions) is a critical distinction for just about everyone and yet few “own” this distinction. Much of religion, politics and even at times science treats interpretations/assumptions as facts. Interpretations can turn into serious distractions and take us down the wrong path. You might be surprised to know MOST decisions are made based on interpretations or assumptions rather than on facts. One reason is that facts usually take considerable work to find and validate and assumptions are often WHAT WE WANT to be the facts. A young girl is “madly in love with some guy” and assumes he is being honest with her about his past, about his job and many other things. All the things they are doing, all the places they are going are distractions from digging into his past. It is very comfortable “where they are” and she does not want anything to change. Lots of bad decisions and consequently broken lives come out of such an emotional, assuming relationship.
The case of interest for heaven coach is the example of people who associate themselves with a given religion and become comfortable. Their whole comfortable religious experience may just be something powerfully distracting them – distracting them from opening their minds to anything else. Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and the other religions all have many believer’s who are comfortable in their belief’s. They never consider that their religion is based on many assumptions and day after day they follow the required pattern. Here is where truth seekers can easily break away from serious error by dividing issues into facts and interpretations. You can take any issue and determine the validity of the teaching by using this test – If you are honest and love the truth. Sadly, religious error dominates in today’s world because people are satisfied with what they have been taught. The bible is very clear about your need to seek the truth and to prove what is acceptable to God.
PROVE
Romans 12:2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
LOVE OF THE TRUTH
2 Thessalonians 2:10
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
PREACH, BE LONGSUFFERING
2 Timothy 4:2
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
SCRIPTURES MAKE YOU WISE
2 Timothy 3.13-17
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
True religion is not based on emotion, or on what you have been taught, but requires effort on your part to discern truth from error. The above verses point to your salvation as being related to diligence, proving things, becoming wise, longsuffering, and rightly dividing the word of truth. God carefully left His word for those who love the truth to find it, to obey it, and to live it.
I will give you one simple example using Islam and Christianity. One might say sorting things that are FACT versus INTERPRETATION in the area of religion will be difficult if not impossible. Actually, it is not that hard and if you pick the right categories you can reach a reasonable, clear conclusion. For example looking below, what is the origin of Islam? It is one man, namely Mohammed. What is his character – historically – there are facts and then there are today’s idealized versions created and still being created today. The historical facts are consistent and he even represents much of his character in the Qur’an. Is there a strong core of believable witnesses? Does the bible, which he believes (all of Old Testament and some of the New Testament) validate Mohammed as a future prophet and are his doctrines consistent with bible teaching? What is the legacy or outcome of his religion? Finally are there any “Fatal Flaws?” Then compare (using the same categories) this to Jesus’ claim to be prophet, God’s Son and the central piece of God’s plan for reconciliation.
Assumption 1: About Mohammed and Islam
Assumption 2: About Jesus and Christianity
Jesus indicates there were four witnesses that validated Him. Jesus carefully explains that if He were to bear witness of Himself then that witness is not true. Mohammed bore witness of himself, as mentioned above and if you follow Islam you must believe Mohammed who only had himself as witness.
The four witnesses of Jesus were:
1) John the Baptist who came before Jesus bearing witness to the truth. Speaking of the One who would follow him.
2) The works given to Jesus to do, namely His preaching and miracles.
3) The Father testifies of Jesus
4) The scriptures from the beginning testify of Jesus
John 5:30-44
31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.
32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.
35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
Note: The witnesses which validate Jesus either were before His existence or were contemporary with Jesus. The first witness of Jesus being in Genesis 3.15.
The contrast between Jesus and Mohammed is startling, so startling, so powerful that were it not for prejudice, indoctrination, and coercion only Jesus would be selected. This is true of all other religions such as Catholic, Protestant, and Mormon.
The “Christian-related” religions such as Catholic and Protestant have twisted the scriptures either intentionally for their own gain, or have been fooled, or have been careless to the destruction of many souls. They understand Jesus to be who He said via the scriptures but do not follow the doctrine of Christ. Of course, not all have fallen into this trap but some demonstrate they love God by their initial and continual obedience.
So, people are distracted from searching and finding the truth because they believe they already have the truth. They never test their belief to determine if it is just an assumption, an interpretation or if indeed there is factual, reasonable, and in the case of God there is perfect information that perfectly fits together. A true understanding of your belief is so much more than proudly claiming your allegiance to a given religion.
If you look at the above categories in the charts: Origin, Character, Witnesses, What God Says, The legacy and Fatal Flaws you will see an incredible contrast, that is, the contrast between truth and deceit. The implication of the true understanding of your belief is certainty or concern. If it is concern, you need to move to find the truth.
It is a fair question to ask how can there be such deceit? It usually begins with one person bearing witness to himself/herself. Shortly thereafter there are followers who are zealous and they begin the cover up of the inevitable damaging analysis. In the case of Mohammed, his followers continue to this day to defend Islam instead of testing Islam. They go point by point and transition Mohammed to this wonderful person and cover all the scriptural problems of the Qur’an. The legacy of Mohammed to this day is one of killing in the name of Allah, although the Old Testament which Mohammed believed in its entirety says vengeance belongs to God. The answer to Islam is simple in that it fails in its origin and it is all “downhill” from there.
Ishmael is not the son of God’s Promise as seen in Genesis 17, but Issac.
Genesis 17:19
19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
In fact the angel tells Hagar, Ishmael’s mother that she is with child.
Genesis 16.11,12
11 And
“ Behold, you are with child,
And you shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the LORD has heard your affliction.
12 He shall be a wild man;
His hand shall be against every man,
And every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”
God heard Abraham regarding his son Ishmael and said, “I will make him a great nation.” It is out of this lineage that we have the Arab nations.
God’s plan centered on Jesus and all are included. There is no discrimination but each person chooses to believe and live as they wish. Many are distracted, and some are indoctrinated but God has the answer.
Galatians 3.26-29
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Why in the world would you believe anyone else – believe God. He has left you a treasure!
To help make the point about evidences, distinctions I will make a similar analysis for Catholicism and Protestantism. This will follow shortly on a new page. The remainder of this page will focus on a some typical distractions, many of which seem very innocent, but if you lose your soul they will not be innocent. They will represent very poor choices you made.
Your Truth Versus God’s Truth
Practically speaking your truth is subjective unless it is aligned with God’s truth. God’s TRUTH IS TRUTH, no filtering, no opinions, no variation is possible. Man’s truth needs to be filtered, discussed and there may be many variations. Science is science and has many theories and frequently they claim theories are truth and people often assume science is truth and it comes pretty close to being truth or is truth in cases where there is UNDENIABLE VALIDATION. Things like the Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Organic Evolution are NOT truth. Some people may believe they are truth but as an honest scientist would say, “they are the best we can do.” What they often mean is these concepts are the best we can do such that God is left out of the equation. Science ends up being a major distraction that can keep you from seeking the truth you need. As mentioned there is man’s truth (questionable) and God’s truth (unquestionable). This does not mean you should not question God, His word but that as long as you are honest, sincere, open-minded you will not find God’s truth to be in error. In today’s world, often due to distractions, few even get close to the truth.
In my book, “What Is Life All About?” there is a section on distractions (Chapter 16.8) and a portion of that follows here:
Distractions
All of these false religions are just distractions from the truth. As you participate and believe in any of them, you are not pursuing the truth. You need the truth so you can obey God and live a life pleasing to Him. Three examples of distractions follow:
First, Psychics
Two of the more famous psychic’s are shown below.
“Fortune-tellers” have a history of deception and most people realize their craftiness. During the 1990s we had an explosion of psychics who were promising people answers to questions about their life, especially various personal matters. Some also offered information about departed friends and relatives. Magicians do amazing tricks that we just cannot figure out how they do them, but we know they are tricks. These psychics also use various deceptions and patterns to
fool people. Only God knows the future, God has determined men’s preappointed times.
Acts 17:26
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings
No one communicates with the spirit world. All this deception is more serious than people realize because of the following:
Psychics cunningly deceive you in various ways and you participate in your own deception. What you make of your life is in your hands, not something told you by a psychic. To some people, this belief can become their religion. They will not find the truth they need talking with a psychic. It is just a distraction.
Two of the more famous psychics are Nostradamus and Edgar Cayce as pictured above. Nostradamus was an astrologer, prophet and physician. He has maintained certain popularity well after his death. People through history have indicated things Nostradamus predicted related to their time. Interestingly, Catherine de Médicia (St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre / Inquisition)
admired and befriended Nostradamus. Nonetheless, he lived in fear of the Inquisition due to the delicate nature of his business, prophecy. He made over 6,300 prophecies and with sufficient vagueness to allow future generations the opportunity to say, “Could this event
be what Nostradamus meant, or is it possible that he foresaw this happening?”
Edgar Cayce is likely the best-known American psychic and was deeply involved in the Christian religion although he would eventually favor doctrines contradictory to the Bible. Edgar’s family was very deeply involved in mysticism and occult behavior and this undoubtedly
influenced him from an early age. Much of his over fourteen thousand “readings” were based on his self-induced trances, visions, and hearing voices. Like Nostradamus, he was medically inclined and developed many cures associated with helping certain diseases. Edgar Cayce’s fame was as a clairvoyant healer. Actually, his clairvoyance consisted of a diagnosis, and then he would recommend a course leading to a potential cure. He was a leader in the development of modern holistic medicine and provided valued information about the human body. He would also make predictions of all sorts of things such as California falling into the ocean and the lost continent of Atlantis rising out of the sea.
Nostradamus and Cayce are just two of thousands involved in the psychic trade and many have gained fame due largely to the public’s fascination with mysticism and predictions of the future. Ultimately, if you give this some thought, you will understand there is certainly no value in Psychics from the eternal point of view. The future is important to every person, but you will seal your fate all by yourself by the decisions you make. You need to do the right things during your lifetime and not waste your life on anything that distracts such as psychics, who have distracted and confused many.
Second, Sports and Hobbies
I love sports, participating, coaching, and watching. Yet I would be foolish not to recognize that the hobbies and sports we enjoy can become an obsession, controlling our time. Certainly, these things can be a distraction from finding the truth if for no other reason than they leave little time for the pursuit of truth and doing the work that God requires. This strongly points to the need to have an appropriate balance in one’s life between the physical and spiritual. For some people, their hobby seems to be their job. This usually ends up being
damaging to family and spirituality. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with anything in this section since certain distractions are helpful for our balance and are part of being human. We also have a spiritual responsibility to care for our relationship with God and to be concerned about the spiritual welfare of others. Distractions fill our lives and what does not get one person’s interest will be a fixation to another. Most of these things as we said are not fundamentally wrong. They become wrong “at the end of the day” when they have distracted us from finding and/or living the truth. We need to heed God’s admonition to make the most of our life as He says walk circumspectly redeeming the time.
Ephesians 5:15-17
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Once you find the truth and obey it, there is a need to change your balance in favor of the spiritual over the physical world. God emphasizes the former since it is eternal. God’s children know this, and the more they understand God, the more their dedication. In Luke 9.62, Jesus in speaking of the kingdom indicates, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” It all becomes exceedingly clear when you truly understand that this physical life is very short and the way you live it will determine your eternity.
Third, Aliens
Sorry, there are no aliens. Aliens or extraterrestrial beings are not a Bible subject, so I really do not know, but the usual reasoning for their existence is not sound in light of the truth. The typical reasoning is that the universe is so incredibly enormous that intelligent life must exist elsewhere. “Surely in such a large universe, with its countless galaxies, life must have started elsewhere.” However, realizing God’s central purpose for all creation was mankind the creation of other beings seems less reasonable. Considering this, intelligent life would not necessarily exist elsewhere in the universe due to some statistical probability since the existence of the universe and intelligent life was a special cause. God made man in His image, and that is unique. As you understand God and His purpose for man and creation, it would not be clear why it would be necessary to place beings in His image (that is, intelligent, creative, individual-personality beings) throughout the universe. Man is the root cause for all creation and the earth is the stage wherein the “drama” occurs. The drama does not involve a “war of the worlds” but a war between you and sin.
Nonetheless, God is silent on this subject of aliens. I mention aliens because they seem to hold such a fascination for people and thus can become a distraction. For some people, aliens are a religion. Aliens or not, I know for sure that what people need is available here on earth. That knowledge, that truth you need comes from God, who fills the heavens and the earth. He is the creator of all things!
“There must be life elsewhere,” is frequently justified by the enormity of the universe. A better use for this knowledge would be the wonderment of God’s creation. The galaxy pictured (NGC 4414) has a “diameter” of about 326,000 trillion miles, and it is farther than that from our galaxy. Our sun is a mere 93 million miles from the earth, and the distance from our sun to the center of our Milky Way spiral disk galaxy is about 25,000 light years or 146 quadrillion miles. Our galaxy contains about 200 billion stars. The enormity of just our
galaxy is unfathomable. There are over 125 billion galaxies, and it is an expanding universe. These things are real and measurable up to the point we can see with our best telescopes. There is such design in the universe that it is incomprehensible not to see God. So in Genesis 1.1, we see God created the heavens and the earth; it is the first thing He created. Throughout the book, “What Is Life All About?”, I am pointing to better understanding God and His purpose for life. God has placed us here as a spirit that is locked inside a physical body with intelligence and a unique personality on a planet that is a speck in what is likely an endless universe. God can do all this without any effort, and we ought to be in unspeakable awe of Him. We ought to respect and honor Him and be amazed at His love for us. We ought to be able to see that He is the God of the Bible.
He has revealed His purpose for our existence, and many deny His existence and many more deny the Bible with its requirements. To many reading this page, God is like an alien in that you do not know Him or His purpose for you. God wants to have a wonderful, eternal relationship with you as the scriptures teach (James 4.8), “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Many of these worldly distractions or organized man-made religions show people reaching out, needing help.
Imagining and imagination, mysteries and the mysterious, personal pursuits and pastimes are great escapes from our problems or just for filling our time. Often they distract us from facing up to our problems and searching for the truth, which would be fine except life, is extremely short.
Distractions now join alcohol and speeding as leading factors in fatal and serious injury vehicular crashes. Of course, this is largely due to electronic devices, especially phones, and even if not hand held since they distract our focus from driving. So, the distractions of life although sometimes a blessing can be deadly to our bodies as well as our souls. Heaven Coach, of course, is interested in getting you to heaven and the most deadly distraction turns out to be man-made religion. You can be an Atheist and I would suggest that what you have observed as religion has been a contributing factor in your belief system. You may be young or old and the former can be fooled into believing he or she will have tomorrow – but they do not really have that assurance. Regardless of your age, your state in life you need to come to grips with life’s purpose and do something about it. This page is about being distracted from doing what is required. In our enabling world many think that, “I was distracted” is an excuse. Why do you understand that might be true? Live in facts, things that make sense, and things that have substance, true value. Understand that your position in life is not making the rules but finding and following them. Now is the time to get serious about life, seriously!
Some distractions are momentary and generally not very harmful. Somethings however, grab our attention and become part of our life. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but anything that keeps us from getting to the truth and living in a way that we stay on the road to heaven is a problem. Of course, you may not see it that way but heaven coach tries to encourage you and help in life’s journey. The way you (and most everyone) look at life is not the way God does unless you are already aligned with the God of heaven. The test and that is what life is requires you live for more than yourself and that you get into a relationship with God or you will be unsuccessful in life. As you fill your life with so many things there is indeed no time for God. It is your choice and it is extremely enticing to get involved in a “million” different things.
We go through life very quickly and so many things are interesting and gain our attention. Some distractions are difficult and heartbreaking. There are many things that bring us joy and that might be a hobby, sports, a relationship. The world is filled with many things that distract us and we get to choose how to use our time. If we can come to understand life’s purpose those things that are important to us might be quite different.
Distinctions and Consequences
The case of interest for heaven coach is the example of people who associate themselves with a given religion and become comfortable. Their whole comfortable religious experience may just be something powerfully distracting them – distracting them from opening their minds to anything else. Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and the other religions all have many believer’s who are comfortable in their belief’s. They never consider that their religion is based on many assumptions and day after day they follow the required pattern. Here is where truth seekers can easily break away from serious error by dividing issues into facts and interpretations. You can take any issue and determine the validity of the teaching by using this test – If you are honest and love the truth. Sadly, religious error dominates in today’s world because people are satisfied with what they have been taught. The bible is very clear about your need to seek the truth and to prove what is acceptable to God.
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
SCRIPTURES MAKE YOU WISE
2 Timothy 3.13-17
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
True religion is not based on emotion, or on what you have been taught, but requires effort on your part to discern truth from error. The above verses point to your salvation as being related to diligence, proving things, becoming wise, longsuffering, and rightly dividing the word of truth. God carefully left His word for those who love the truth to find it, to obey it, and to live it.
I will give you one simple example using Islam and Christianity. One might say sorting things that are FACT versus INTERPRETATION in the area of religion will be difficult if not impossible. Actually, it is not that hard and if you pick the right categories you can reach a reasonable, clear conclusion. For example looking below, what is the origin of Islam? It is one man, namely Mohammed. What is his character – historically – there are facts and then there are today’s idealized versions created and still being created today. The historical facts are consistent and he even represents much of his character in the Qur’an. Is there a strong core of believable witnesses? Does the bible, which he believes (all of Old Testament and some of the New Testament) validate Mohammed as a future prophet and are his doctrines consistent with bible teaching? What is the legacy or outcome of his religion? Finally are there any “Fatal Flaws?” Then compare (using the same categories) this to Jesus’ claim to be prophet, God’s Son and the central piece of God’s plan for reconciliation.
Assumption 1: About Mohammed and Islam
Assumption 2: About Jesus and Christianity
Jesus indicates there were four witnesses that validated Him. Jesus carefully explains that if He were to bear witness of Himself then that witness is not true. Mohammed bore witness of himself, as mentioned above and if you follow Islam you must believe Mohammed who only had himself as witness.
The four witnesses of Jesus were:
1) John the Baptist who came before Jesus bearing witness to the truth. Speaking of the One who would follow him.
2) The works given to Jesus to do, namely His preaching and miracles.
3) The Father testifies of Jesus
4) The scriptures from the beginning testify of Jesus
John 5:30-44
31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.
32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.
35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
Note: The witnesses which validate Jesus either were before His existence or were contemporary with Jesus. The first witness of Jesus being in Genesis 3.15.
The contrast between Jesus and Mohammed is startling, so startling, so powerful that were it not for prejudice, indoctrination, and coercion only Jesus would be selected. This is true of all other religions such as Catholic, Protestant, and Mormon.
The “Christian-related” religions such as Catholic and Protestant have twisted the scriptures either intentionally for their own gain, or have been fooled, or have been careless to the destruction of many souls. They understand Jesus to be who He said via the scriptures but do not follow the doctrine of Christ. Of course, not all have fallen into this trap but some demonstrate they love God by their initial and continual obedience.
So, people are distracted from searching and finding the truth because they believe they already have the truth. They never test their belief to determine if it is just an assumption, an interpretation or if indeed there is factual, reasonable, and in the case of God there is perfect information that perfectly fits together. A true understanding of your belief is so much more than proudly claiming your allegiance to a given religion.
If you look at the above categories in the charts: Origin, Character, Witnesses, What God Says, The legacy and Fatal Flaws you will see an incredible contrast, that is, the contrast between truth and deceit. The implication of the true understanding of your belief is certainty or concern. If it is concern, you need to move to find the truth.
It is a fair question to ask how can there be such deceit? It usually begins with one person bearing witness to himself/herself. Shortly thereafter there are followers who are zealous and they begin the cover up of the inevitable damaging analysis. In the case of Mohammed, his followers continue to this day to defend Islam instead of testing Islam. They go point by point and transition Mohammed to this wonderful person and cover all the scriptural problems of the Qur’an. The legacy of Mohammed to this day is one of killing in the name of Allah, although the Old Testament which Mohammed believed in its entirety says vengeance belongs to God. The answer to Islam is simple in that it fails in its origin and it is all “downhill” from there.
Ishmael is not the son of God’s Promise as seen in Genesis 17, but Issac.
Genesis 17:19
19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
In fact the angel tells Hagar, Ishmael’s mother that she is with child.
Genesis 16.11,12
11 And
“ Behold, you are with child,
And you shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the LORD has heard your affliction.
12 He shall be a wild man;
His hand shall be against every man,
And every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”
God heard Abraham regarding his son Ishmael and said, “I will make him a great nation.” It is out of this lineage that we have the Arab nations.
God’s plan centered on Jesus and all are included. There is no discrimination but each person chooses to believe and live as they wish. Many are distracted, and some are indoctrinated but God has the answer.
Galatians 3.26-29
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Why in the world would you believe anyone else – believe God. He has left you a treasure!
To help make the point about evidences, distinctions I will make a similar analysis for Catholicism and Protestantism. This will follow shortly on a new page. The remainder of this page will focus on a some typical distractions, many of which seem very innocent, but if you lose your soul they will not be innocent. They will represent very poor choices you made.
Your Truth Versus God’s Truth
Practically speaking your truth is subjective unless it is aligned with God’s truth. God’s TRUTH IS TRUTH, no filtering, no opinions, no variation is possible. Man’s truth needs to be filtered, discussed and there may be many variations. Science is science and has many theories and frequently they claim theories are truth and people often assume science is truth and it comes pretty close to being truth or is truth in cases where there is UNDENIABLE VALIDATION. Things like the Big Bang Theory and The Theory of Organic Evolution are NOT truth. Some people may believe they are truth but as an honest scientist would say, “they are the best we can do.” What they often mean is these concepts are the best we can do such that God is left out of the equation. Science ends up being a major distraction that can keep you from seeking the truth you need. As mentioned there is man’s truth (questionable) and God’s truth (unquestionable). This does not mean you should not question God, His word but that as long as you are honest, sincere, open-minded you will not find God’s truth to be in error. In today’s world, often due to distractions, few even get close to the truth.
In my book, “What Is Life All About?” there is a section on distractions (Chapter 16.8) and a portion of that follows here:
Distractions
All of these false religions are just distractions from the truth. As you participate and believe in any of them, you are not pursuing the truth. You need the truth so you can obey God and live a life pleasing to Him. Three examples of distractions follow:
First, Psychics
Two of the more famous psychic’s are shown below.
“Fortune-tellers” have a history of deception and most people realize their craftiness. During the 1990s we had an explosion of psychics who were promising people answers to questions about their life, especially various personal matters. Some also offered information about departed friends and relatives. Magicians do amazing tricks that we just cannot figure out how they do them, but we know they are tricks. These psychics also use various deceptions and patterns to
fool people. Only God knows the future, God has determined men’s preappointed times.
Acts 17:26
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings
No one communicates with the spirit world. All this deception is more serious than people realize because of the following:
Psychics cunningly deceive you in various ways and you participate in your own deception. What you make of your life is in your hands, not something told you by a psychic. To some people, this belief can become their religion. They will not find the truth they need talking with a psychic. It is just a distraction.
Two of the more famous psychics are Nostradamus and Edgar Cayce as pictured above. Nostradamus was an astrologer, prophet and physician. He has maintained certain popularity well after his death. People through history have indicated things Nostradamus predicted related to their time. Interestingly, Catherine de Médicia (St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre / Inquisition)
admired and befriended Nostradamus. Nonetheless, he lived in fear of the Inquisition due to the delicate nature of his business, prophecy. He made over 6,300 prophecies and with sufficient vagueness to allow future generations the opportunity to say, “Could this event
be what Nostradamus meant, or is it possible that he foresaw this happening?”
Edgar Cayce is likely the best-known American psychic and was deeply involved in the Christian religion although he would eventually favor doctrines contradictory to the Bible. Edgar’s family was very deeply involved in mysticism and occult behavior and this undoubtedly
influenced him from an early age. Much of his over fourteen thousand “readings” were based on his self-induced trances, visions, and hearing voices. Like Nostradamus, he was medically inclined and developed many cures associated with helping certain diseases. Edgar Cayce’s fame was as a clairvoyant healer. Actually, his clairvoyance consisted of a diagnosis, and then he would recommend a course leading to a potential cure. He was a leader in the development of modern holistic medicine and provided valued information about the human body. He would also make predictions of all sorts of things such as California falling into the ocean and the lost continent of Atlantis rising out of the sea.
Nostradamus and Cayce are just two of thousands involved in the psychic trade and many have gained fame due largely to the public’s fascination with mysticism and predictions of the future. Ultimately, if you give this some thought, you will understand there is certainly no value in Psychics from the eternal point of view. The future is important to every person, but you will seal your fate all by yourself by the decisions you make. You need to do the right things during your lifetime and not waste your life on anything that distracts such as psychics, who have distracted and confused many.
Second, Sports and Hobbies
I love sports, participating, coaching, and watching. Yet I would be foolish not to recognize that the hobbies and sports we enjoy can become an obsession, controlling our time. Certainly, these things can be a distraction from finding the truth if for no other reason than they leave little time for the pursuit of truth and doing the work that God requires. This strongly points to the need to have an appropriate balance in one’s life between the physical and spiritual. For some people, their hobby seems to be their job. This usually ends up being
damaging to family and spirituality. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with anything in this section since certain distractions are helpful for our balance and are part of being human. We also have a spiritual responsibility to care for our relationship with God and to be concerned about the spiritual welfare of others. Distractions fill our lives and what does not get one person’s interest will be a fixation to another. Most of these things as we said are not fundamentally wrong. They become wrong “at the end of the day” when they have distracted us from finding and/or living the truth. We need to heed God’s admonition to make the most of our life as He says walk circumspectly redeeming the time.
Ephesians 5:15-17
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Once you find the truth and obey it, there is a need to change your balance in favor of the spiritual over the physical world. God emphasizes the former since it is eternal. God’s children know this, and the more they understand God, the more their dedication. In Luke 9.62, Jesus in speaking of the kingdom indicates, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” It all becomes exceedingly clear when you truly understand that this physical life is very short and the way you live it will determine your eternity.
Third, Aliens
Sorry, there are no aliens. Aliens or extraterrestrial beings are not a Bible subject, so I really do not know, but the usual reasoning for their existence is not sound in light of the truth. The typical reasoning is that the universe is so incredibly enormous that intelligent life must exist elsewhere. “Surely in such a large universe, with its countless galaxies, life must have started elsewhere.” However, realizing God’s central purpose for all creation was mankind the creation of other beings seems less reasonable. Considering this, intelligent life would not necessarily exist elsewhere in the universe due to some statistical probability since the existence of the universe and intelligent life was a special cause. God made man in His image, and that is unique. As you understand God and His purpose for man and creation, it would not be clear why it would be necessary to place beings in His image (that is, intelligent, creative, individual-personality beings) throughout the universe. Man is the root cause for all creation and the earth is the stage wherein the “drama” occurs. The drama does not involve a “war of the worlds” but a war between you and sin.
Nonetheless, God is silent on this subject of aliens. I mention aliens because they seem to hold such a fascination for people and thus can become a distraction. For some people, aliens are a religion. Aliens or not, I know for sure that what people need is available here on earth. That knowledge, that truth you need comes from God, who fills the heavens and the earth. He is the creator of all things!
“There must be life elsewhere,” is frequently justified by the enormity of the universe. A better use for this knowledge would be the wonderment of God’s creation. The galaxy pictured (NGC 4414) has a “diameter” of about 326,000 trillion miles, and it is farther than that from our galaxy. Our sun is a mere 93 million miles from the earth, and the distance from our sun to the center of our Milky Way spiral disk galaxy is about 25,000 light years or 146 quadrillion miles. Our galaxy contains about 200 billion stars. The enormity of just our
galaxy is unfathomable. There are over 125 billion galaxies, and it is an expanding universe. These things are real and measurable up to the point we can see with our best telescopes. There is such design in the universe that it is incomprehensible not to see God. So in Genesis 1.1, we see God created the heavens and the earth; it is the first thing He created. Throughout the book, “What Is Life All About?”, I am pointing to better understanding God and His purpose for life. God has placed us here as a spirit that is locked inside a physical body with intelligence and a unique personality on a planet that is a speck in what is likely an endless universe. God can do all this without any effort, and we ought to be in unspeakable awe of Him. We ought to respect and honor Him and be amazed at His love for us. We ought to be able to see that He is the God of the Bible.
He has revealed His purpose for our existence, and many deny His existence and many more deny the Bible with its requirements. To many reading this page, God is like an alien in that you do not know Him or His purpose for you. God wants to have a wonderful, eternal relationship with you as the scriptures teach (James 4.8), “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Many of these worldly distractions or organized man-made religions show people reaching out, needing help.
Imagining and imagination, mysteries and the mysterious, personal pursuits and pastimes are great escapes from our problems or just for filling our time. Often they distract us from facing up to our problems and searching for the truth, which would be fine except life, is extremely short.
Distractions now join alcohol and speeding as leading factors in fatal and serious injury vehicular crashes. Of course, this is largely due to electronic devices, especially phones, and even if not hand held since they distract our focus from driving. So, the distractions of life although sometimes a blessing can be deadly to our bodies as well as our souls. Heaven Coach, of course, is interested in getting you to heaven and the most deadly distraction turns out to be man-made religion. You can be an Atheist and I would suggest that what you have observed as religion has been a contributing factor in your belief system. You may be young or old and the former can be fooled into believing he or she will have tomorrow – but they do not really have that assurance. Regardless of your age, your state in life you need to come to grips with life’s purpose and do something about it. This page is about being distracted from doing what is required. In our enabling world many think that, “I was distracted” is an excuse. Why do you understand that might be true? Live in facts, things that make sense, and things that have substance, true value. Understand that your position in life is not making the rules but finding and following them. Now is the time to get serious about life, seriously!
