SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                          1004

“No Substitute”

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:2-3

I am a firm believer in the adage that ‘Every solution creates a new problem to solve’. For example, when we substituted artificial grass for natural turf playing fields, we solved the turf maintenance issue but created the new problems of physical injury to the players. Other ‘solutions’ that created new problems are artificial sweeteners, pesticides, and Genetically Modified Foods.

Mankind’s desire to find substitutes began with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God’s Word is timeless and clear about this topic.

No substitute for God. – Note what is happening in the world today relative to the New World Order and the One World Religion. I am the Lord your God …You shall have no other gods before me. – Exodus 20:2-14

No substitute for our Savior – Jesus said to him,“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

…And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. Matthew 24:3-5

No substitute for the Truth of God’s Word. – They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. – John 17:17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness – 2 Timothy 3:16

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

No substitute for your spouse. – A term I hear often is ‘work wife’ referring to a frequent close relationship between male and female coworkers. This is a dangerous relationship that can open the door to sin. Be friendly, but keep your distance from the opposite sex. …and give no opportunity to the devil. – Ephesians 4:27

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28

No substitute for natural relations (Romans 1:25-27). – God instituted gender and marriage between one man and one woman – period, end of story. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27

May you accept no substitutes for the Truth of God’s Word.