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The Journey of Life: The Roads We Travel — Part 2

The Journey of Life: The Roads We Travel — Part 2

The journey of life can be tough. There are many roads, not all equally healthy. In part 1 of this series we examined Walking in Ignorance, Illiteracy and Infancy. Consider the remaining paths below as you decide the way you will walk through life.

Walking the Line

One short step away from those who walk in infancy is the rule-keeper, a person who thinks he thinks for himself but who is actually doing nothing more than following a list of rules. These individuals put their trust in rule keeping; they focus on the rules — the do’s and the don’ts. They appear loyal, devoted, and committed, but their focus is primarily behavioral not transformational.

As a result, they are often tattletales, seeking to find fault with others in the church and reporting them to authority figures, or spreading tales about the wrongs others are doing. They will often argue with other Christians about whose rules are the right rules and cause division and fragmentation when people don’t agree with them on the rules. These rule-keepers are often the most rigid, thoughtless, and inflexible Christians. They also have little tolerance for others.

These individuals seem to do be doing okay when things are going well in their lives, but, sadly, they have little ability to handle adversity when it arises. When stress suddenly hits — a child diagnosed with cancer, a loved one injured in a car wreck, or the loss of a job — when they have “kept all the rules,” they collapse into doubt: “I don’t understand. I go to church. I have my devotion every morning. I pay tithe faithfully. I eat only the approved foods. I don’t watch the wrong TV shows. I don’t curse, or drink, or use tobacco. I have been doing everything God says; this isn’t supposed to happen. I am supposed to be blessed.”

What happens next? They will either double down into more rigid rule keeping, believing there must be some secret sin they must overcome — thereby further growing their list of rules to keep — or they become disillusioned and simply give up.

The only healthy approach is to realize that God doesn’t run His universe on a rules-based system. As the Creator, God’s laws are the protocols upon which reality works. Learning the truth about God and His methods and entering into a relationship with Him in which one is loved for who they are (a child of God) and not for what they do (keep the right rules) puts a person on the right road — the road to wellness. In that trust relationship, one learns it is about renewing the heart with love for God and for others, not keeping a list of rules.

Rule-keepers focus on walking the line, on carefully managing their behavior according to the rules, while failing to understanding and experience God’s transforming love and methods. I encourage you to understand the reality of God’s universe, experience God’s transforming presence in your life and avoid getting ensnared into the hopeless and discouraging life of rule-keeping.

Walking in Confusion

Some struggling through life’s problems are confused. They say to me, “I just don’t know what to do or who to believe. There are so many different churches, teachings, religions — how do you know what to believe? How can you know what is true?” The younger generation is being told there is no absolute truth, that everyone’s truth is their personal truth, which only instills more uncertainty.

They may have been told that “the Bible is the only source of truth,” but this answer doesn’t work for such individuals because they know there are thousands of different Christian groups who argue back and forth about Bible truth while all claiming the Bible supports their views. So, even if you get them to accept the Bible as truth, they will ask, “Which Christian group is right about what the Bible teaches?”

Some people have told me that they were raised Christian and have since tried Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, or agnosticism but have never found lasting peace. They are deeply confused about what to do or what to believe. And when life’s difficulties arise, they are easily overwhelmed and discouraged.

My approach has been to teach them to love truth, to develop an attitude of wanting to know what is true and to apply it to their life when they understand it. I teach them to start by developing an understanding of God’s design laws. These are the protocols upon which reality is built to operate. These design laws are constants; they never change — so they are powerful touchstones that we can turn to in order to test the various doctrines, belief systems, or ideas being promoted. God’s design laws include: the laws of physics, gravity, and health — but more important, the laws of love, liberty, and worship:

The law of love is the principle of giving upon which all life is built to operate. Any organism or system that refuses to give will die. (See my article “The Little Horn, God’s Law, and How You have been Deceived.”)

 

The law of liberty is the design protocol required for love to function in relationships. Love only exists in the atmosphere of freedom. Violate freedom — for instance, threaten to kill someone who doesn’t love you — and love will be damaged, rebellion will be instilled, and individuality will be eroded. (See my presentation “God’s Principle — The Law of Love and Liberty.”)

 

The law of worship is the principle of modeling; i.e., by beholding we become changed. We actually will become like the God we admire and worship, neurobiologically and characterologically. This is why it is critical to come to the truth about God. If we believe lies about the Creator, worshiping a God who is other than love — a tyrant who uses his power to torture and kill — then rather than being restored to true godliness we are damaged to become more selfish, fearful, and tyrannical.

People who walk in confusion are those who cannot differentiate truth from error, who get overwhelmed by the plethora of divergent ideas, and who haven’t understood God’s design laws. If you want to break out of this cloud of confusion, I encourage you to pursue God’s design laws and to harmonize Scripture with those laws and how life actually works.

Walking Alone (wandering away)

Some people have gained a knowledge of God and know his methods and principles; they have understood His character, laws, protocols, and how life is to be lived. They have experienced His peace in their lives and feel confident in their abilities to practice God’s methods; and so they set out on their own to live godly lives. They create routines for life, not focusing on rules, but on the principles of God. But then, slowly at first, they stop spending time with God. They haven’t purposely chosen to rebel against God; they would be shocked to think that they are anything but a loyal follower of God. However, over time, their life got busy with responsibilities and, somewhere along the way, they lost touch with God without even noticing. Then one day they burn out, find themselves overwhelmed, have problems that have piled us and feel crushed under the weight and stresses of life.

Those who walk alone have gotten busy with life, or mission, or responsibilities and have slowly wandered away from God. If you find yourself in this situation, choose to spend time with God every day — take walk in nature, meditate regularly on His word, sing songs of praise, and join in Bible study and Christian fellowship. I encourage you to reconnect with your Creator and Savior today.

Walking in Rebellion

These are people who have had a knowledge of God but for various reasons have chosen to reject that truth and replace it with some lie:

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles (Romans 1:21–23 NIV84).

 

You must understand that in these last days some people will appear whose lives are controlled by their own lusts. They will mock you and will ask, “He promised to come, didn’t he? Where is he? Our ancestors have already died, but everything is still the same as it was since the creation of the world!” They purposely ignore the fact that long ago God gave a command, and the heavens and earth were created (2 Peter 3:3–5 GNT).

Such people never find peace, health, or happiness because peace, health, and happiness are only possible in harmony with God and His methods for life. Sadly, there is little to do for people who willfully reject truth and choose lies other than to set them free to reap what they have chosen — which will be pain and suffering. Sometimes, in that suffering, people will realize that the path they have chosen (to reject the truth about God) is the wrong path and return to God, as in the parable of the Prodigal Son.

Walking with God
Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away (Genesis 5:24 NIV84).

 

This is the goal; this is the way; this is the only path of health and life — to walk with God so closely that this world of selfishness is cut out of our hearts and we are fully united with God, such that we are ready to walk right into heaven!

Each and every day, spend time with God. Use the integrative evidence-based approach: read the Scripture, always harmonizing it with God’s revelations in nature and how life actually works. Spend time meditating on each of God’s design laws. Contemplate the God who built reality and the protocols He instilled in His creation. Meditate on nature — look at the beauty, symmetry, constancy, and the immeasurable complexity and diversity. Spend time contemplating the life of Christ and realize that you are watching our Creator — meditate on His character, methods, and principles. Talk with God daily and open your heart to Him, spending quiet time listening to Him.

Each day, tell God, “Father, I want a heart and mind that is sensitive to truth because all truth leads back to you. Help me see, comprehend, and assimilate your truth at the earliest possible moment that I am capable. Expand my mind to discern ever deeper insights into your kingdom and methods. Change me; take away the longing for selfishness and worldliness and instill your love for life, health, goodness, and people. May it no longer be my fearful self who lives, but may your character of love live in me!”

Tell God of your heartaches, anger, resentments, hurts, frustrations, aspirations, longings, and desires — but then in humbleness ask God to clean them up, to run all your longings and emotions through His cleansing love, to improve and strengthen the healthy desires, and to remove and eliminate any destructive desires.

Always give Him thanks — for who He is, for how He governs (upon the laws of love and liberty), for the evidences He has provided, for what He has achieved through Jesus for our salvation, for His love for you, and for His eternal love that never ends and never fails.

Then share with others your love for God and the truth you know about God. Make life a journey in which you walk with God every day, knowing that no matter how difficult your road, you will never travel it alone!

 

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I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

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The blessings of clarity and understanding you and your class inspire me to take from the word of God have impressed upon me so greatly the true, loving character of our Creator. I have found amazing freedom and joy through building a stronger, more intentional relationship with Him. What is new is that this is now a relationship built on love, reverence and respect rather than fear and obligation, and as such my eyes have been slammed OPEN as I am continually impressed by the manifestations of God’s true character in His provisions for fallen man.

T.E.H., Salt Lake City, UT, USA

 

Testimony 56

I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Tammy Cinzio, Australia

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

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I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 72

I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

H. Miller, Centereach, NY

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia