TSIYON NEWS

From Eliyahu

 

Consider this:

 

What is the best way to live your life?

 

Ultimately, there are only two ways, but many would disagree, thinking there are many approaches that could be taken. The 2006 film, The Secret is one such approach. The film recommends something it defines as "the law of attraction" as providing the best way to live your life. In a nutshell, the film makes  "the New Thought claim that everything one wants or needs can be satisfied by believing in an outcome, repeatedly thinking about it, and maintaining positive emotional states to "attract" the desired outcome."  [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_(2006_film)]
 

That sounds a lot like magic. Just wish for something and believe in it hard and long enough and you can attract that desired outcome! You don't have to wish on a star, cast a spell, or even trust in God, because you are already divine yourself, so just use your divine powers of attraction to wish what you desire into existence! Its as easy as that! - or so The Secret would have you believe. Is this idea credible?    Apparently "the film and the subsequent publication of the book of the same name attracted interest from media figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and Larry King" says the same article quoted above.  Besides such media figures, many ordinary people have embraced The Secret as the way they wish to live, in hopes of attracting anything they desire.

 

While proponents of this theory of the way to live life will tell you it is "scientific" it is not. In reality it is religious in nature. As mentioned in the quote above, The Secret  derives from the New Thought Movement. 

 

The New Thought movement is a spiritual movement which coalesced in the United States in the early 19th century. New Thought was preceded by "ancient thought", accumulated wisdom and philosophy from a variety of origins, such as Ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Chinese, Taoist, Vedic, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist cultures and their related belief systems, primarily regarding the interaction between thought, belief, consciousness in the human mind, and the effects of these within and beyond the human mind[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Thought]
 

The Secret not only sounds like magic. It actually is the very essence of magic as embraced by pagan philosophies and religions from around the world. That has not stopped professing Christian ministers and Churches from embracing this drivel under other names, such as "the power of positive thinking" and the like.         

As I said near the start of this message, there are only two ways. Whether you look to The Secret, the Power of Positive Thinking, Think and Grow Rich, the Prosperity Gospel, or some other, the goal is always the same - to get what you desire. In that sense, all of these ways offered to live your life are the same - being about getting what you want. In Scripture all of these ways together come under one heading: The Broad Way. Getting what you want is very attractive to many people, however, there is a problem with that. Very often what a person desires for themselves is not really in their own best interest or in the best interest of others. You may wish for, or even pray for something, and you may even get what you desire - only to have it harm or destroy you in the end. It happens all the time. (Prov 14:12, Matthew 7:13+14)

 

The other way is "the Way of righteousness." This way is not about your desires. It is about doing your Creator's will for your life. Yeshua called this Way "the narrow way." He said, "few are those who find it." In other words, don't expect most people to be walking the narrow way.  Why? A lot of reasons, the biggest reason probably being that most people are so focused on their own desires that they couldn't even imagine living their life on the narrow way. Many fool themselves they are on the narrow way, because of professing a certain religion, sometimes being nice, or even occasionally generous, or simply because "all good people go to heaven." Those on the broad way often take comfort in such misguided ideas. However, the narrow way is the way to eternal life, and few find it. All those platitudes 'everybody' seems to believe, allowing for just about everybody to be granted eternal life, don't square with those words of Messiah. You don't get your ticket punched so you can go and do your own thing until the fateful day comes along. The narrow way is a rigorous way, often contrary to one's own desires, that leads to life. That way can be found in faithful service to none other than Yeshua Messiah.

 

Paul was an imperfect human just like us, and yet he offers us an excellent example of how to walk the narrow way through this world. I'm taking a closer look at that tonight at Tsiyon.Net at 8:00 PM CST at our live online Tsiyon meeting. Come join me for this, and I think you will see Paul in greater clarity, and you will be encouraged in your walk with Messiah.

 

Blessings and good health to you!

 

Eliyahu
Tsiyon.Org

 

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