Have You Never Questioned The Traditions Of Your Forefathers?

"To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him? The workman molds an image, the goldsmith overspreads it with gold, and the silversmith casts silver chains." Isaiah 40:19-20 It's hard to understand why people spend good money for gold and silver images, to wear them or to bow down before them. It's hard to understand, though at one time I did it myself. It's for lack of knowledge of the Word of God. I had never heard this passage from the Word of God: "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; YOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM nor serve them." Exodus 20:4 I had never heard it because the Catholic church, in which I grew up, REMOVED the 2nd commandment. The Lord began early teaching me against these things, although I didn't "get it" at the time. One day, I was a passenger in a car and before we started out I prayed to Saint Christopher, "the patron saint of travelers," asking for protection. We were rammed by a car going through a red light and sustained much damage to the vehicle, but though I emerged from the car with a broken bone and bruises from neck to toe, all I could think of was "how could this happen just after my prayer to Saint Christopher?" The patron saints to whom I prayed, and the "blessed Virgin" whose favor I sought, failed miserably when I asked from them the help I needed. When I later left that religion, someone asked why I would leave it and I answered, "because in all the problems I brought to this church and to the saints and to the "blessed Virgin," I never obtained from them the help I needed." I left that religion weeks after Jesus Christ came into my life, opened my eyes, and brought me through the "born again" experience. In the years to come, HE did for me all that the others were not able to do. Satan is the "father of lies," who seeks "to steal, to kill, and to destroy." His method is shown in the very beginning chapters of the Bible as he leads our first parents to disobey God. His method? Lies. He is the father of lies (John 8:44.). He does the same today, and easily misleads the multitudes who believe the suggestions he presents to their minds, with no clue that a malevolent being made those suggestions to them. Many don't even believe he exists. I've heard it said that one of Satan's greatest accomplishments has been making people believe he doesn't exist. Once he's accomplished that, people will think that all that comes into their minds is only their own thoughts. What a trap! Religion is a set of practices designed to make a person feel "good" but it is a stench in God's nostrils. It bypasses the Word of God, in fact most religions have replaced the Word of God with their own "holy" book. So the Muslims have the Koran, the Jews have the Talmuds, the Catholics have the Catechism, the Mormons have the Book of Mormon, the Jehovah's Witnesses have the Watchtower Bible, and on and on and on the deception goes. Today, many new "versions" of the Bible have been presented to believers, all promising that their version is easier to read than the old King James. But the truth is that most of the new versions have altered many texts, and even omitted many passages. Because this is so widespread, I would not put my trust in any "new" version produced in this generation. Most of them are corrupted to one extent or another. We live in the age of deception, and if we do not make a serious effort to know God and to know his Word, we will live in deception. So many follow the traditions of their fathers, never questioning whether those traditions rest in the truth or in deception. How often have I heard, "I was born a 'xxxx' and I'll die a 'xxxx.'" I once asked someone whether he would want to know the truth if the truth was different from what he was raised to believe, and he honestly couldn't answer me. He stayed with the traditions of his fathers, because to question them was too threatening for him. Yes, there is a cost in following the Lord. "Surely our fathers have INHERITED LIES, worthlessness and unprofitable things.” Jeremiah 16:19 Pray with me: Father God, most people keep the traditions that were handed down from their generations without questioning whether those traditions are rooted in truth, while often their traditions are actually rooted in deception and idolatry. I realize that all religions have their version of tradition, yet they contradict each other, so what is the truth? They can't all be truth if they contradict each other. Father, I know that truth is one of the most important things to you, and I ask you to show me any traditions that I practice which are a stench in your nostrils. Help me to question the traditions of my particular inherited brand of religion. Put in me a hunger for TRUTH and reveal to me any lies I have believed and followed. I choose this day to seek truth rather than tradition, so I come to you because you ARE the truth. Help me bring my life into what is true, and give me strength to part with what is not. In Jesus's Name I pray. "Jesus said to him, 'I AM the way, THE TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT through me.'" John 14:6