Page 9 - Foundations

grace of God that alone results in an unveiling of divine truth.

James 4:6-7
God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit therefore to God.

There are numerous men and women who are selling millions of books, audio messages, and videos.
People flock to their conferences in great numbers. Media tables are set-up at their speaking events
where those in attendance converge to fill up bags with books and videos that promise to impart to
them the secrets of successful living and happiness, or to unveil the hidden things of God. Yet, the
vast majority of this material is bereft of the divine truth it promises. Both shepherd and sheep are
drinking from polluted streams, feeding in defiled pastures. Many of those who promote themselves
as guides are in fact blind leaders of the blind. What is needed is a return to the foundations of truth.

Proverbs 15:33
The fear of Yahweh is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.

There are no shortcuts to truth that circumvent the obedience of the cross. This is as much a fact for
the readers of books as it is for the authors. The apostle Paul described those in the church who were
“always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Timothy 3:7). Christians
may be purchasing millions of copies of the latest religious best sellers, but what are they gaining?
They are not arriving at the knowledge of the truth. The church must embrace the cross. They must
accept the cost of discipleship if they are to receive from Christ access to His most holy things.

The apostle Paul in writing to the Hebrews addresses the problem of feeding on “strange” and
erroneous teachings. In his words are contained a deep truth, conveyed through means of symbolic
speech.

Hebrews 13:9-10
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened
by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefitted. We have
an altar, from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Teachings are compared to food. The soul feeds on ideas in the same way the body draws sustenance
from various foods. Yet even as there are junk foods in abundance at this hour, there are also