Spiritual Truth

What is it that causes people to ponder the existence of spiritual realms?  Why do some claim to be spiritual and to believe in a higher power despite a secular and materialistic society’s denial of a God and creation?  Paranormal activity piques the interest of some who try to explain seemingly supernatural events in human terms and world travelers often recount feeling a heavy spiritualism in the air in some countries.  Spiritual naivety is a slippery slope for the undiscerning mind and for those who choose to dabble in the occult, it can lead to terrible consequences.

In his book, Four Nights with the Devil, Peter Hockley shares his encounter with Satan while naively attempting to communicate with God.  Raised in an atheistic environment and searching for answers to his own spiritual questions, he purchased a book that described how its writer experienced communications with God.  Captivated by what he read, Peter attempted to communicate with God in the same way recommended by the author of the book.  Taking a pen and paper he wrote a letter to God and was amazed when he received a reply from a spirit identifying itself as God.  For three consecutive nights he experienced intense encounters which rattled him despite the seemingly benevolent nature of the spiritual entity.

Shaken, he turned to a Christian friend for clarification and to validate what he had been told.  His friend advised him to test the spirit by asking it in the name of Jesus if it truly was God, since the spirit would be bound to tell the truth in the name of Jesus.  That night, Peter asked the spirit in the name of Jesus if it really was God and he quickly learned that it was none other than Satan himself.

Books like this sell copies and attract attention in a society that suppresses knowledge of the spiritual world and has forsaken humanity’s inherent spirituality in favor of the science of naturalism.  Historically, exorcisms and encounters with demons have been written about and described in great detail, up to and including the smell of Satan’s breath as described by Jesuit priest Malachi Martin.  A documentary of his story was aired on Netflix in 2017.

The spiritual world is not to be taken lightly.  Witchcraft, black magic, voodoo, fortune telling and palm reading or even seeking enlightenment through yoga are not of God and are therefore satanic in nature.  The apostle Paul wrote, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12.

People who have had near death experiences testify that they have hovered above the operating room, or accident scene and watched as doctors or paramedics worked on their bodies.  Invisible to those involved, they are able to recall specifics about the events they could not have possibly known unless their stories are true.  Often, they are transported through a dark tunnel to heaven and sometimes hell and books have been written that testify to these experiences.

23 Minutes in Hell, is the true story of an experience Bill Wiese had when he got up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water.  He was transported to hell where he experienced horrific things which he describes in vivid detail in his book.  He was saved by Jesus and placed back in his body in his kitchen.  There are countless stories that are not told just to be creepy but have dramatically impacted those who have experienced them.

They are meant as warnings to a society that has become apathetic to any ideology that threatens the status quo where people would rather do nothing than investigate for themselves.  The reality of God’s existence should be beyond debate when paranormal events are documented and clearly demonstrate that we are not alone.  Even alleged alien abductions have been halted in the name of Jesus, proving that UFO’s and aliens are not only real but rather than extraterrestrial visitors, they are demonic spirits interposing themselves into our physical world. Satan is the great deceiver and he is very convincing. “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14.

God created man in his own image and within that context we all possess a spirit that is as real as our physical bodies.  It is this spiritual nature that causes us to ponder the existence of God and to yearn for intimacy with him.  Some people deny their spiritual side and can only relate to a physical, natural world as explained by scientific theory such as evolution to explain life.  Others acknowledge there is “something” more to the human experience, yet take the path of least resistance, accepting spiritualism without critically thinking about the deeper significance of this reality on a personal level.

Man has invented thousands of religions in an effort to explain God and his relevance in our daily lives.  Yet God’s true nature has been lost in a multitude of ideologies that mankind has formulated from philosophical assertions that lack a Godly perspective.  We cannot even begin to appreciate the holiness of God.  The Bible says that even our best deeds are like filthy rags when compared to God’s holiness (Isaiah 64:6).  Paul wrote, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

There can be no sin in God’s presence.  His brilliance, purity and splendor are beyond our ability to comprehend.  Humans cannot even look upon God or they will die.  When God met Moses on Mt. Sinai he warned the people not to even set foot on the base of the mountain or he may break out against them.  He would not even permit Moses to see his face as he passed by.  There was thunder and lighting and a thick dark cloud covered the mountain and everyone in the camp trembled.  Throughout the Bible, encounters with angels are similar with people falling on their faces in reverence to the mystery of the supernatural.  Yet today, society has a cavalier attitude towards the notion of spiritual realms and atheists demand that God show himself on their terms to prove he exists.

Two thousand years ago, God did show himself to the world and in the process he provided indisputable proof of his existence, not on man’s terms but on God’s terms.  Terms that encapsulated God’s plan of redemption for anyone who would humble themselves before him, repent of sin and believe in his Son.  Jesus stands alone in human history as the one and only path to heaven.  No other religion, philosophy, or movement has made the truth claims that Christ made and backed them up with rising from the dead.

Jesus posed a radical theology that was exclusive of every other religious claims throughout history.  He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.  Not only was he outspoken regarding salvation, as the messiah he claimed to not only be God’s only Son but to be God himself.  These assertions outraged the religious leaders and teachers to the point of having him killed, yet this could not stop him and his resurrection stands as the fulcrum of Christianity that has spread throughout the world.  No other religion or spiritual entity can disprove this fact.

The Bible says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11.

For those that believe in a higher power or say they are spiritual, there is a demonstrable deficiency in this rationale that stops well short of an omnipotent Creator and ultimately defaults to a perception that is substantially less than God has revealed himself to be.  The essence of God is infinitely greater than our finite minds could ever imagine.  Unless we seek to know the one true God intimately we endanger our very souls by entertaining relationships with unknown spiritual entities. The Bible tells us that we are to test all spirits to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1).

Spiritual realms are as real as the air we breathe and engaging in undiscerning spiritual dabbling can have disastrous results.  Jesus Christ is the incarnate manifestation of God in the flesh that we can all identify with and comprehend.  Do not settle for a vague or veiled spiritualism but pursue Jesus and earnestly seek your salvation from the only one qualified to save.