I keep hearing talk from people how we all worship the same God, just by different names. They say we’re all on different paths that get us to the same place.

Here is what the bible says.

Don’t trust our own reason and logic.

God loves us more than we could ever know.

God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.  He doesn’t change to suit the culture.

Jesus is God.

Jesus is inclusive. He welcomes any and all who come to Him in faith and repentance.

Jesus is exclusive. He is the only Way, Truth, and Life. No one comes to God except through Him.

Jesus is eternal. He was, and is, and is to come. He did not come into being in Mary’s womb, and He did not cease to exist after the resurrection.

Every person is God’s creation, but only those who believe in and trust Him are His children. He has promised that His children will be with Him forever, and warns that those who reject Him will spend eternity outside His Presence.

This life is not all there is. There is an existence after this life, and what we do now both prepares us for and determines our life then.

God wants our character now to be reflective of His character and to show the marks of His life in us including:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

God wants our behavior to be that of a life in submission to Him as Lord:

Humility not Pride – Understanding who He made me to be.
Abstainance not Lust – To say no when He says no.
Moderation not Excess – To say enough when He says enough.
Diligence not Laziness – To finish what He gives me to finish.
Charity not Greed – To give when others have needs.
Kindness not Envy – To rejoice when others receive good things.
Patience not Anger – To turn the other cheek or step aside in favor of others.

You may not like what the bible says. You may say it is hopelessly outdated. But do not fall for the lure of false tolerance, in the sense that every teaching or belief is equally true. Of course, each person has the right and responsibility to decide whether to accept or reject the claims of the bible. But if it is truth, then we are not free of the consequences of our choice.

Joshua challenged the nation of Israel:

Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness…And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”