According to folklore, Easter, recognized under various names like Ishtar, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Semiramis, and Biblically the one revered by idolaters as the “queen of heaven” in Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17–25, is commonly believed to be the widow of Nimrod, who was the first on earth to be a mighty and powerful man (see Genesis 10:8–9), and the mother of Tammuz. She is portrayed as a Pagan fertility goddess, often depicted bare-breasted, originating from the east. The legend describes her descent from heaven within a giant egg, landing in the Euphrates River during sunrise on the first Sunday following the vernal equinox. It is said that upon emerging from the egg, she transformed a bird into an egg-laying rabbit.
To honour this event, Pagan sun worshippers would gather early in the morning and face eastward to witness their sun-god’s rise over the horizon (see an example of this in Ezekiel 8:16). Following this, they would partake in a mass ritual, often involving sacrifices. In these ceremonies, the priests of Easter would impregnate young virgins on the altar at sunrise on Easter Sunday. The following Easter, the priests would sacrifice these now three-month-old babies and dye the eggs of Easter in their blood. These blood-red-coloured Easter eggs were believed to hatch on December 25th, the same day as the birth of her son Tammuz, considered the reincarnate sun-god, and the traditional winter solstice. This December 25th celebration underwent a process of Christianisation, being recognized today as “Christmas” or Xmas.
According to folklore, following on from the death of Nimrod, his now widowed wife and queen Semiramis (Easter) married and entered into a sexual relationship with her son Tammuz, whom she deified as the reincarnate sun-god. Tammuz met his demise while hunting wild pigs, fatally gored by a boar. This is purportedly the origin of the tradition of consuming ham on Easter among Pagans. Additionally, Tammuz’s death at the age of forty led Pagans to observe a fast, allegedly lasting one day for each year of his life. This is likely the Biblically mentioned practice of “weeping for Tammuz” (see Ezekiel 8:14). In Catholic tradition, this fasting period is referred to as Lent.
There is no mention of Easter in the Bible, nor is its celebration mandated. These holidays are ancient Pagan feasts that were ushered in by the Roman Catholic church during the reign of Emperor Constantine. Constantine was a Pagan follower of the sun-god Mithra who had what he thought was a “Christian experience” that led him to victory in battle. He aimed to unify his empire, encompassing both Christian and Pagan populations, under a single, universal (Catholic) religion. To accomplish this, he assimilated ancient wisdom and spiritual elements from various cultures and beliefs. This involved revising historical narratives and assigning Christian names to previously Pagan festivities, beginning at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
The LORD God does not approve of worship in this way. As it is written:
“When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it. (Deuteronomy 12:29-32 ESV)
Thus says the LORD: “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” (Jeremiah 10:2-5 ESV)
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 ESV)
“Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?
God created man in His own image and with His own likeness and set the first man, Adam, in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. But Adam sinned by disobeying God and became corrupted, and because we are all his descendants, we have inherited his sinful nature. Sin is the violation of God’s Law, and the “wages” of sin is death. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and death through sin, so death spread to all mankind because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Thus, we are all justly deserving of everlasting punishment—the destruction of soul and body in hell. But even so, in His love, God already had a plan to save and redeem us.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, paying the debt for our sins, so that through Him we may be saved. Unlike us, Jesus was conceived in the womb of a virgin by the Holy Spirit of God and therefore did not share Adam’s sinful nature, but rather He had God’s nature. Jesus, in every respect, was tempted as we are yet He remained without sin—like a “lamb without blemish or spot”, the perfect and only sacrifice worthy of taking our place. For by the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was scourged, mocked, crucified, and killed for our sins, taking upon Himself the punishment we deserve. He was then buried and raised back to life after three days, in accordance with the scriptures. He then appeared to more than five hundred individuals in the forty days post-resurrection before being taken up into heaven out of their sight and returning to His Father. Fulfilling every one of the many Old Testament prophecies pertaining to Him, He now sits at His Father’s right hand and is awaiting His Father’s instruction to return. This was all recorded in the scriptures contained in the Holy Bible, which is the word of God and is able to save our souls.
Jesus Christ promised that all who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace and not by any merit of our own. Upon His return, all the dead will hear His voice and come to life—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and later, those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart in rebellion. Whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Making sure to be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.
If you repent and believe in the gospel, placing your faith in Jesus Christ, you will inherit salvation, which leads to everlasting life. With this salvation comes a necessary spiritual rebirth; God will give you a new heart and His Holy Spirit, which will give you wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, put His Laws into your heart and write them in your mind, guide you into all the truth, help you, and comfort you. By the blood of Jesus, sanctifying you and cleansing you of all unrighteousness—conforming you to His image.
In an act of faith, all believers are called to be baptised in water in the name of Jesus Christ. To be buried with Christ by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, you also might walk in newness of life. Having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power towards believers. To be called children of God and dwell with Him in the kingdom of heaven forever, where death, mourning, crying, and pain no longer exist.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the present darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The devil, who is called Satan, and all his angels, which are also referred to as demons, have been cast out of heaven for their choice to sin and rebel against God. They are our greatest threat in this world, even though at times it may seem like it’s each other. Satan is the spirit that is now at work in all those who are living in disobedience to God. We must be very careful about what we hear and believe, verifying everything against God’s word in the Bible, for many false prophets, teachers, and brethren are in the world and among churches, like wolves in sheep’s clothing. But fear not, for God is greater and with us always.
We now await our blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is coming soon with eyes like a flame of fire and all His angels with Him, and every eye will see Him. But concerning that day and hour, no one knows—not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Therefore, those of us who are eagerly awaiting His appearance must be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace. Counting the patience of the Lord as salvation. There are some things in the scriptures that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction. Take care that you are not carried away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
If you love me, keep my commandments. I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, that he may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”
Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me. “I have said these things to you while still living with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. You heard how I told you, ‘I am going away, and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens, you may believe.
I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let’s go from here.
(John 14:15-31 WEBPB)
The reliability of Christianity's claims and trust in the Bible is grounded in four key areas of evidence: manuscript consistency, archaeological findings, fulfilled prophecies, and internal cohesion. Manuscript evidence highlights the unparalleled preservation of biblical texts, with thousands of ancient copies, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, which support the consistency of modern Bibles. Archaeological discoveries, such as the pool of Bethesda, confirm the Bible’s historical accuracy. Somewhere in the order of 2,000 prophecies, including hundreds about Christ Jesus, have been fulfilled with remarkable precision, further supporting the Bible’s divine inspiration. Finally, the internal cohesion of the Bible, despite being written over approximately 1,500 years by some 40 authors, demonstrates its unified and divinely guided message. Together, these pillars offer compelling reasons to trust the Bible as a faithful record of God’s revelation.
And let’s not forget the eyewitness testimony of Jesus' apostles. They upheld this testimony faithfully, unwavering even in the face of torture or execution.
With regards to evidence of there being a Creator, the evidence is all around you. God's invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. You will have no excuse on the day of judgment.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:18-23 ESV)
The Bible provides several reasons why most people refuse to repent. Here are some key scriptures that address this:
- Love for Darkness Over Light – John 3:19-20
“This is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.”
→ Many reject repentance because they prefer sin and do not want their actions to be exposed.
- Hardened Hearts – Hebrews 3:12-13
“Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there might be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called ‘today’, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
→ Sin deceives people, causing them to harden their hearts and resist repentance.
- Pride and Self-Righteousness – Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.”
→ Some refuse to repent because they do not want to admit they are wrong or in need of a Saviour.
- Spiritual Blindness by Satan – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.”
→ The devil blinds people spiritually, keeping them from seeing the truth.
- Pleasure in Unrighteousness – 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
“…because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Because of this, God sends them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
→ Many reject repentance because they take pleasure in sin rather than in God’s truth.
- Fear of Social Rejection – John 12:42-43
“Nevertheless, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue, for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.”
→ Some fear losing their status, friendships, or acceptance in society if they repent.
- Delaying Repentance – Acts 24:25
“As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgement to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, ‘Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.’”
→ People often put off repentance, thinking they have more time.
- Lack of Understanding of God’s Kindness – Romans 2:4
“Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
→ Some do not repent because they misunderstand or take for granted God’s patience.
True and enduring repentance is granted by God’s grace to His elect. No one naturally seeks after God on their own, as scripture clearly teaches:
- God Chooses Us First – John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day.”
→ People do not choose God first—God must draw them by His grace.
- No One Naturally Seeks God – Romans 3:10-12
“As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.’”
→ Left to themselves, people do not seek God or repentance.
- Repentance Is a Gift from God – 2 Timothy 2:24-26
“The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, in gentleness correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
→ Repentance is not something people generate on their own—it is granted by God.
- God’s Elect Are Chosen for Salvation – Ephesians 1:4-5
“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love, having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,”
→ God chooses His people before they ever turn to Him.
- God Changes the Heart to Enable Repentance – Ezekiel 36:26-27
“I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.”
→ Only by God’s intervention can a person truly repent and follow Him.
- Faith and Repentance Are God’s Work, Not Ours – Philippians 1:6
“being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
→ It is God who initiates and completes the work of salvation in His elect.
- Only the Elect Will Come to Christ – John 10:26-27
“But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
→ Those who belong to Christ will hear His call and follow, while others remain in unbelief.
Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart in rebellion. Whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy and forgiveness. If you repent and believe in the gospel, placing your faith in Jesus Christ, you will inherit salvation, which leads to everlasting life. With this salvation comes a necessary spiritual rebirth; God will give you a new heart and His Holy Spirit, which will give you wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, put His Laws into your heart and write them in your mind, guide you into all the truth, help you, and comfort you. By the blood of Jesus, sanctifying you and cleansing you of all unrighteousness—conforming you to His image.
He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble. (Proverbs 28:13-14 WEBPB)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10 WEBPB)
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms concerning me must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:44-49 WEBPB)
The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the LORD’s glory, the excellence of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm. Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.
A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called “The Holy Way”. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools shall not go there. No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there. Then the LORD’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (Isaiah 35:1-10 WEBPB)
Can we be certain that Jesus Christ was born on December 25th? The Bible gives no exact date for His birth, so why celebrate on a date tied to pagan traditions? 🎄
The first recorded instance of December 25th being celebrated as Christ's birth comes from a Roman calendar in AD 336, long after it was used to celebrate Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (the “Birthday of the Unconquered Sun”). This date is speculated to have origins in ancient Babylon (approx. 2000 BC), marking the birth of Tammuz, and is celebrated after a woman’s typical gestation period following the pagan fertility festival of Easter. By aligning Christ’s birth with this pagan festival, we risk blending the worship of God with sun worship, which the Bible condemns (Romans 1:25).
Let’s also remember the abominable practices described in Ezekiel 8:16-18, where the people were worshipping the sun in God’s temple—an act of rebellion against God. As Ecclesiastes 1:9 reminds us, “There is nothing new under the sun”, and such practices persist even today.
Additionally, Jeremiah 10:2-5 warns against the customs of the nations, such as cutting, fastening in place and decorating trees with silver and gold—practices still reflected in today’s December 25th tradition. This mirrors an ancient pagan ritual that elevates the tree to the status of an idol.
In Deuteronomy 12:29-32, God specifically commands His people not to adopt the worship practices of other nations, emphasizing that worship must align with His word in Bible scripture, not with man-made traditions.
If you love the LORD God, flee from this pagan festival and don’t justify it for the sake of family. Jesus said, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37 ESV).
We are commanded to worship God in spirit and truth. If the world or your family opposes you, rejoice, for your reward in heaven will be great. As they persecuted the prophets, so they will persecute you. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, to Him be the glory, now and forever.
Being Jesus’ disciple requires total commitment (Luke 14:25-33; Luke 9:57-62). This involves prioritising Him above family, our possessions, and even our own life, using the strong word “hate” (Luke 14:26) to show how great the difference must be between our allegiance to Jesus and our allegiance to everyone and everything else (Matthew 10:37-39). Furthermore, Jesus uses illustrations of a builder and a king (Luke 14:28-32) to highlight the importance of counting the cost before committing. He also warns against laying up treasures on earth rather than in heaven, as one cannot serve both God and wealth (Matthew 6:19-24). The example of Lot’s wife looking back in disobedience (Luke 17:32; Genesis 19:26) and Ananias withholding part of the proceeds from the sale of his land and lying about it together with his wife Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) serve as solemn reminders of the danger of divided loyalty and the need for single-minded devotion to God.
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-33 ESV)
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62 ESV)
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:34-39 ESV)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:19-24 ESV)
Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. (Luke 17:32-33 ESV)
And as they brought them out, one said, "Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away." ... But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:17, 26 ESV)
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God." When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much." But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. (Acts 5:1-11 ESV)
And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’“ (Luke 13:6-9 ESV)
This parable is an illustration of God’s patience toward the unrepentant, but also a warning that God’s patience does not abide forever. A day of judgement is coming. We must “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). God has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead. Do you presume on the riches of God’s kindness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4, paraphrased) Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:10 ESV)
The Lord is not slow to fulfil His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought we to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn?! But according to His promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, those of us who are eagerly awaiting these things and the appearance of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, must be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace. Counting the patience of the Lord as salvation. There are some things in the scriptures that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction. Take care that you are not carried away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:9-18, paraphrased)
God created man in His own image and with His own likeness and set the first man, Adam, in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. But Adam sinned by disobeying God and became corrupted, and because we are all his descendants, we have inherited his sinful nature. Sin is the violation of God’s Law, and the “wages” of sin is death. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and death through sin, so death spread to all mankind because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Thus, we are all justly deserving of everlasting punishment—the destruction of soul and body in hell. But even so, in His love, God already had a plan to save and redeem us.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, paying the debt for our sins, so that through Him we may be saved. Unlike us, Jesus was conceived in the womb of a virgin by the Holy Spirit of God and therefore did not share Adam’s sinful nature, but rather He had God’s nature. Jesus, in every respect, was tempted as we are yet He remained without sin—like a “lamb without blemish or spot”, the perfect and only sacrifice worthy of taking our place. For by the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was scourged, mocked, crucified, and killed for our sins, taking upon Himself the punishment we deserve. He was then buried and raised back to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures. He then appeared to more than five hundred individuals in the forty days post-resurrection before being taken up into heaven out of their sight and returning to His Father. Fulfilling every one of the many Old Testament prophecies pertaining to Him, He now sits at His Father’s right hand and is awaiting His Father’s instruction to return. This was all recorded in the scriptures contained in the Holy Bible, which is the word of God and is able to save our souls.
Jesus Christ promised that all who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace and not by any merit of our own. Upon His return, all the dead will hear His voice and come to life—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and later, those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart in rebellion. Whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Making sure to be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.
If you repent and believe in the gospel, placing your faith in Jesus Christ, you will inherit salvation, which leads to everlasting life. With this salvation comes a necessary spiritual rebirth; God will give you a new heart and His Holy Spirit, which will give you wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, put His Laws on your heart and mind, guide you into all the truth, help you, and comfort you. By the blood of Jesus, sanctifying you and cleansing you of all unrighteousness—conforming you to His image.
In an act of faith, all believers are called to be baptised in water in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. To be buried with Christ by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, you also might walk in newness of life. Having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power towards those who believe. To be called children of God and to dwell with Him for all eternity.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the present darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The devil, who is called Satan, and all his angels, which are also referred to as demons, have been cast out of heaven for their choice to sin and rebel against God. They are our greatest threat in this world, even though at times it may seem like it’s each other. Satan is the spirit that is now at work in all those who are living in disobedience to God. We must be very careful about what we hear and believe, verifying everything against God’s word in the Bible, for many false prophets, teachers, and brethren are in the world and among churches, like wolves in sheep’s clothing. But fear not, for God is greater and with us always.
We now await our blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is coming soon with eyes like a flame of fire and all His angels with Him, and every eye will see Him. But concerning that day and hour, no one knows—not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Therefore, those of us who are eagerly awaiting His appearance must be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace. Counting the patience of the Lord as salvation. There are some things in the scriptures that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction. Take care that you are not carried away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
A common doctrine I’ve noticed spreading in online forums and churches today is the belief that, since we are under grace, we are no longer required to confess and forsake our sins or to keep God's commandments. I would like to stress that this is a doctrine of devils being parroted by individuals who are not of genuine faith and/or have a limited knowledge of scripture or who, through the love of sin, have deceived themselves and are now deceiving others.
Paul addressed this false doctrine: “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:15-18 ESV)
John also discussed this at length: “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:4-10 ESV)
Finally, our Lord Jesus gave many warnings: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)
Those of us who are saved by our faith in Christ are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We are to recognise Christ as Lord and make him the centre of our lives. We are to be walking by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We are to vehemently seek God’s Word and Will. We are to keep a close relationship with God through constant prayer. We are to fear God and keep His commandments, repenting of our sins. We are to resist the temptations that the devil puts before us, to the glory of God. We are to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. We are to love others as we love ourselves. We are to exude love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We are to give willingly, cheerfully, and freely. We are to be bold as lions. We are to be ready to forsake everything that we have, including, if necessary, our very family, for the sake of God.
All the ways of a man are clean and right in his own eyes. Yet that does not excuse his faults in God's eyes. God understands your thoughts, motives, and the desires of your heart much better than you do. So much the more reason is there for anxious self-examination and testing the conduct by God's word, and, when this has been done to the best of our ability, still to pray for cleansing from faults which have escaped our notice. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." (Jeremiah 17:9-10 ESV)
Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart in rebellion. Whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy and forgiveness. If you repent and believe in the gospel, putting your faith in Jesus Christ, you will inherit salvation, which leads to everlasting life. With this salvation comes a necessary spiritual rebirth; God will give you a new heart and His Holy Spirit, which will give you wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, put His Laws on your heart and mind, guide you into all the truth, help you, and comfort you. By the blood of Jesus, sanctifying you and cleansing you of all unrighteousness—conforming you to His image.
“Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.” (Psalm 128:1-4 ESV)
https://youtu.be/CQYhc164dTQ?si=ZhtMiz4YhzYgTg3D
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:7-14 ESV)
“We are all fundamentally good. Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart itself is good,” says Pope Francis.
But what does God’s word say?
“… None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18 ESV)
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV)
If man and his heart is fundamentally good, why do we need a saviour? For what purpose did Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, die? Who should we believe, the Pope, or God?
As it is written, “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
But there is good news...
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was crucified and died for our sins, taking upon Himself the punishment we deserve. He was then buried and raised back to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures. He now sits at His Father’s right hand and is awaiting His Father’s instruction to return. This was all recorded in the scriptures contained in the Holy Bible, which is the word of God and is able to save our souls.
Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart in rebellion. Whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy and forgiveness. If you repent and believe in the gospel, putting your faith in Jesus Christ, you will inherit salvation, which leads to everlasting life. With this salvation comes a necessary spiritual rebirth; God will give you a new heart and His Holy Spirit, which will give you wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, put His Laws on your heart and mind, guide you into all the truth, help you, and comfort you. By the blood of Jesus, sanctifying you and cleansing you of all unrighteousness—conforming you to His image.
1.The design of this deeply hidden plot has been to change the perception of the masses, undermining the authority of the Bible, the correct shape of the earth, the layout of the universe and the creator’s position in it.
2.It means that the origin of man is deliberately being covered up from us. Man, woman and child, you are being deceived on a massive scale.
3.It means that this place was created, that you were designed, you were crafted, you are special and with purpose. A purpose being hidden from you on purpose. We are supposed to know our world, and our reason for being.
We’ve been swallowed whole by this economic fiat money system that controls absolutely everything and fuels this manufactured reality. Most of us know that we are slaves, and it’s no wonder that we desire to escape through movies, tv shows and video games, that happen to also further our programming and mental conditioning. We were never meant to live like this, and knowledge of our flat earth is a step in the right direction. Embrace this flat world of ours, and free your mind from this deception which is being purported by Satan and his legions of demons.
The primary target of Satan's malevolence is the true church of Jesus Christ. Satan has a secret army of devil possessed adversaries of Christ who do Satan's bidding in working to suppress the gospel of Jesus Christ and to enslave the world. To achieve those ends, Satan must control the minds of the masses. He must enslave our minds, before he can enslave our bodies. Heliocentrism is a foundational belief for enslaving the minds of men.
So, I urge you all: diligently study God’s word in the Bible, repent of your sins, believe the Gospel, and put your faith in Jesus Christ; for the kingdom of God is at hand.
Life is but a fleeting mist, here for a moment, then gone. What profit is there in gaining the whole world if it costs one's soul? What if this night your soul is required of you? What can you give in return for your soul? Our days are mere handbreadths, passing swiftly like shadows. The glory of flesh fades like withered grass, yet the word of the Lord endures eternally. The world and its desires are transient vanity, but those who do God's will abide forever. The ultimate duty of humanity is to fear God and keep His commandments, knowing that every deed will be brought into judgment. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, for their righteousness endures forever, and they find light even in darkness. Jesus Christ offers eternal life to those who believe in Him, transcending the fleeting nature of this world. Do you believe this?
The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. The Lord is not slow to fulfil His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance. We repent or we will perish.
“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Among churches and Christian groups, certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation—ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
According to folklore, Easter, recognized under various names like Ishtar, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Semiramis, and Biblically the one revered by idolaters as the “queen of heaven” in Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17–25, is commonly believed to be the widow of Nimrod, who was the first on earth to be a mighty and powerful man (see Genesis 10:8–9), and the mother of Tammuz. She is portrayed as a Pagan fertility goddess, often depicted bare-breasted, originating from the east. The legend describes her descent from heaven within a giant egg, landing in the Euphrates River during sunrise on the first Sunday following the vernal equinox. It is said that upon emerging from the egg, she transformed a bird into an egg-laying rabbit.
To honour this event, Pagan sun worshippers would gather early in the morning and face eastward to witness their sun-god's rise over the horizon (see an example of this in Ezekiel 8:16). Following this, they would partake in a mass ritual, often involving sacrifices. In these ceremonies, the priests of Easter would impregnate young virgins on the altar at sunrise on Easter Sunday. The following Easter, the priests would sacrifice these now three-month-old babies and dye the eggs of Easter in their blood. These blood-red-coloured Easter eggs were believed to hatch on December 25th, the same day as the birth of her son Tammuz, considered the reincarnate sun-god, and the traditional winter solstice. This December 25th celebration underwent a process of Christianisation, being recognized today as "Christmas" or Xmas.
According to folklore, following on from the death of Nimrod, his now widowed wife and queen Semiramis (Easter) married and entered into a sexual relationship with her son Tammuz, whom she deified as the reincarnate sun-god. Tammuz met his demise while hunting wild pigs, fatally gored by a boar. This is purportedly the origin of the tradition of consuming ham on Easter among Pagans. Additionally, Tammuz's death at the age of forty led Pagans to observe a fast, allegedly lasting one day for each year of his life. This is likely the Biblically mentioned practice of "weeping for Tammuz" (see Ezekiel 8:14). In Catholic tradition, this fasting period is referred to as Lent.
There is no mention of Easter in the Bible, nor is its celebration mandated. These holidays are ancient Pagan feasts that were ushered in by the Roman Catholic church during the reign of Emperor Constantine. Constantine was a Pagan follower of the sun-god Mithra who had what he thought was a "Christian experience" that led him to victory in battle. He aimed to unify his empire, encompassing both Christian and Pagan populations, under a single, universal (Catholic) religion. To accomplish this, he assimilated ancient wisdom and spiritual elements from various cultures and beliefs. This involved revising historical narratives and assigning Christian names to previously Pagan festivities, beginning at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
The LORD God hates worship in this way. As it is written,
"When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods?--that I also may do the same.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. "Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it. (Deuteronomy 12:29-32 ESV)
Thus says the LORD: "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good." (Jeremiah 10:2-5 ESV)
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 ESV)
1.“Be true to yourself.” Jesus said, “… If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his stake and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25) “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2 ESV)
2.“Follow your heart.” Jesus said, “And whoever does not take his stake and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38) “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26 NKJV) “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV)
3.“Believe in yourself.” Jesus said, “Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1 ESV) Jesus also said, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40 ESV) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7 ESV)
4.“Live your truth.” Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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.” (Acts 4:11-12 ESV)
5.“As long as you are happy.” Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 ESV) “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:8-10 ESV)
6.“You’re a good person.” Jesus said, “… No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18 ESV) “… None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12 ESV) “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5 NIV) “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV)
7.“God helps those who help themselves.” Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5 ESV) “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6 NASB95)
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. For there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Keep your life free from love of money and be content with what you have. If we have food and clothing, with these we should be content. We brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the Christian faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.