I remember when I joined the United States Air Force I took an oath to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States and defend her from outside aggression. Until this day, even though I am well detached from the Air Force, I will still stand up and honor this country. It makes me sick to my stomach to see people in our great country trying to tear her down from within and make a mockery of this great nation.
According to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary the word oath means: ‘a ritualistic declaration, typically based on an appeal to God or a god or to some revered person or object, that one will speak the truth, keep a promise, remain faithful, etc.’ According to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary an oath is a statement by which a person promises or guarantees that a vow will be kept or that a statement is, in fact, true.
Many years ago when a person told you they would do something or pay you for a service rendered, the two parties shook hands and the agreement was sealed. It was sealed by integrity of a promise made and in very few instances were these bonds ever broken and if they were it was when one party would go to the other and ask for forgiveness and understanding. People trusted people and believed in their fellow man.
In today’s society it seems the integrity of an oath or a handshake means very little. We read and hear about people taking an oath of a political office that brings shame to them and their family because of greed and self-interest. Our world has changed because people have become more self-sufficient and have lost their dependence on the one and only true God. We have many new religions that have come forth and shared their own gods and led many people astray and down a path of destruction.
How many of us gave our life to Jesus and asked for His guidance and leadership and have gone a different direction? When we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior we vowed to follow Him even though His way is through the narrow gate. Being a Christian is not easy in a sin filled world and the path of destruction is entertaining and easy to get on.
When we make our commitment to Christ Jesus we must remember that He is the only way to eternal life. In John 14:6 He tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is not hard to understand but is so difficult to continue when the world keeps pulling at you to go their way instead of keeping your eyes on Jesus.
Are you a person that accepted Jesus as the one and only true God and Savior of the world and said you would follow Him and His teachings but has found it very difficult to keep your oath to Him? We are not perfect people and our fleshly desires will always fight us to go astray from the only One that can give us eternal life. What will you do today? Will you honor your salvation experience to Jesus or give in to the unfaithful and lustful desires of the world?
GARY ANDREWS' devotional appears each week on the Church Pages of your Clarksdale Press Register. You can contact him at GARY@gadevotionals.com
