Conflict: Finding

Conflict is what makes a great fiction novel. At least, a fiction novel without conflict will be rather blase'.  

"And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him (Jesus) asked him to show them a sign from heaven." (Matthew 16:1 ASV)

There are times when I think I really wish God would just  say to me in His God Voice, "you've gotten side-tracked again. You're going the wrong way, back up/turn around, and..."Somewhat like an accurate Alexa, or /Siri. 

In my life it is often days, months or even sometimes years before I can tell if what I've done is the right thing. I do trial and error, or the turn around and look method. On small inconsequential things-- if you learn from the experience it can be good. However, the important things in life don't work well that way. Like having a 2,000 pound polar bear charging at you, most of the important things only give you one shot.

"But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2) For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy," 

(2 Timothy 3:1-2 ASV)

People have been pointing to what goes on in society for close to two thousand years, saying, 'these are the last days'. We are witnessing a society in turmoil and conflict. Like a kaleidoscope of ever changing patterns the colors and shapes are—ever changing. We have angry young people, and why wouldn't we have them? We have angry unchanneled adults. If adults fall for the lies of Satan, do we expect their younger counter-parts to be any less duped? 

There are many people in denial. I saw it today on a meme: "I'm not religious, I'm spiritual". What?! What does that mean? I thought the definition might give me a clue, so I went to the dictionary to find out what 'religious' is: 1) a member of a religious order bound by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience 2) religious; spiritual (adj)  3)having or showing belief in and reverence for deity 4)of or relating to clergy bound by monastic vows. 5) extremely scrupulous, conscientious

So, why are they in denial? Being religious is apparently out of favor. If one is 'spiritual' they can approach their own image of their own god in whatsoever manner they choose.Being spiritual is fashionable like the difference between 'meditation' and 'prayer'. 

• Prayer is the act of communicating with deity, (especially as a petition, an expression of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving. (A petition/ communication that goes toward God.)

• Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health issues, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. It may be done sitting, or in an active way - for instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of or remind the practitioner about some aspect of the training.(A training of one's own mind, self-talking.)

• One is a petition to deity, the other is putting self in the place of deity, and talking to self .

Calling it spiritual as opposed to religious is as one writer put it, "putting it according to their own terms; God has zero input in the equation. It's atheism for someone who's scared to go all in."

The following is a list which being religious answers to. 

• God wants more from His followers than just their thoughts "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."(James 1:27 ASV)

• God wants us to 'know' Him. To crave His companionship—as if we were friends, or (gasp) his dear children, and He our Father
• He wants us to not just know his will for us, but to follow His will
• God wants us to love His Son, Jesus; to honor and worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• God wants us to love, and show love. Not just the warm and fuzzy, feel good love, but the kind that Jesus had and showed in His life and death

You see, religion is the foundation for that kind of life. Just as Jesus was religious—Yes, he was—He kept the Law perfectly, and without that he wouldn't have been the perfect sacrifice. As the song says: Law and Love combining. 

Nowhere does God say, "Find your own path to me, follow your own feelings..." "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." 

(John 14:6 ASV)

"But he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red. 3)And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times. 4)An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed." (Matthew 16:2-4 ASV)

Halelujah! What a Savior!