Acts 4:12 – And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (ESV)

While I was growing up, I attended Sunday school, went to youth group, studied music, and became an organist and choir director. During this time, I was influenced by New Age teaching, which I fervently studied and become involved in. Various esoteric inner peace organizations and universal mind groups deeply influenced my theological formation.

I was searching for truth. I was attracted to the premise that I was learning hidden truths that would allow me to become like God. I could be one with the mind of the universe. I could be more spiritual, more enlightened, more in tune with the power of the gods. I could even control and use this power. What an attractive proposition! There were many ways that lead to God, I thought.

During my fourth year at university, I felt led to study theology. I went to seminary and became a minister. All the time, I shared my New Age beliefs and even wove them into my sermons, explaining that these were new ideas, new interpretations of Scripture. I was enlightened. The scary thing was that no one in my first church seemed to notice that I was preaching false doctrine.

After my first two years of ministry, I was still searching for peace and spiritual illumination. The esoteric teaching was leaving me empty inside. I needed to know what was missing in my life. One day, I received a regular monthly cassette tape from the Association for the Understanding of Man. They were thoroughly New Age, offering psychic readings to tell the future. The tape began by saying that they were in a time of transformation. The leadership had attended an old-fashioned, evangelistic tent meeting in order to heckle, but the Holy Spirit got hold of them. They gave their lives to Jesus and were announcing to the membership that they were denouncing all former teaching and activities and were now Christians.

I felt abandoned and confused. Had they bought the Jesus thing? After all, there are many ways to God. Shortly afterward, I was baptized with the Holy Spirit in my bed as I was talking with God. My life was changed. In an instant, I knew that Jesus was my Saviour and Lord. I burned my library of New Age books and announced to my congregation that I had become a Christian.

There are so many false teachers in the world today with so many false teachings. How can we know the way to God?

John 14:6 – Jesus said to [Thomas], "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (ESV)

Be careful whom you listen to. Be careful what teaching you accept. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and give you discernment from God's holy Word. By the grace of God, I know that Jesus is the only way to the Father. May God give you this knowledge as well. Pray with me:

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, You came to bring salvation to the world. You came to call me into a relationship with You. You came to forgive my sins and make me holy and acceptable to Your Father in heaven. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear the truth of the gospel, and may I be equipped by the Holy Spirit to share this good news with others. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.

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About the author:

David Hooper <theskypilot@pm.me>
Prescott, Ontario, Canada
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