I've Got My Own Religion

“It doesn’t matter what you believe” “I’ve got my own religion” “Just so you believe something” “Everybody has their own beliefs” These are sayings which you will hear many people say today. They sound nice, and help to make people feel good, since it makes their own beliefs as valid as those of anyone else. “After all,” some say, “can you really know anything for sure?” People who claim to have “the truth” are looked down upon as being arrogant and intolerant. For some reason, people can accept the idea that any religion is valid as long as it doesn’t claim to be the only true religion! Do you know why that is? It’s Satan’s way of getting people to believe anything but the one thing that will remove his grip on their souls. It is not true that all religious beliefs are of equal value. What you believe does matter. The very fact that “Everybody has their own beliefs” is what God says is man’s biggest problem—we have exchanged His truth for our beliefs. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). Man’s confused religions stand in opposition to God’s simple way to life. Man’s ways are part of the wide, tolerant, sin-ignoring way which ends in destruction. “Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction … narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). What you believe does not change what is true. Jumping off the top of a skyscraper onto the street below will kill you, no matter how strongly you believe otherwise. In the same way, what you believe—or what religious leaders have taught—does not change the truth of God’s word! Entering into eternity with the firm belief that there is no God, or that your beliefs or your works are good enough to earn His approval, will not change the outcome: “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). Truth is not a matter of opinion. Something is either true or it is false. Jesus Christ claims to be the truth. He did not say “I am a way,” but rather, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). When it comes to faith, it is not, “Just so you believe something,” but “Just so you believe Christ.” Turning to God and putting your faith in Jesus Christ, who laid down His life on the cross of Calvary and rose victoriously from the dead, is the only way to everlasting life and forgiveness of sins. Just as everyone has turned to their own way, each of us must individually turn from our rebellion. No one can save themselves, since salvation is “not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Because God is the One who saves, salvation is as certain as His promise that anyone who “heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). Jesus Christ is the only way. Won’t you stop rejecting Him, and by faith receive Him as your Savior today? —Ron Melick “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).