The world has drifted further and further from truth. I see this in friends from my past who are considering philosophies like Buddhism. It is not true Buddhism, mind you, but some new age version of it. But the true enlightenment they find appealing is far greater in Christianity, they just don't know it.
Take Proverbs. Sooooooo much wisdom in there. I'm truly overwhelmed by it. God is so good to give us this wisdom to live by. I want to say that 'I can't imagine life without it'. But I already know what life was without it. I lived life without it for 38 years.
As it says in Proverbs 2:2, we must
1) turn our ears to wisdom, and
2) apply our heart (not just our mind) to understanding it.
Without these two steps, we will continue to lean on our own flawed, incomplete-at-best, selfish, worldly understanding. We'll embrace the recently popular New Age versions of old age fallacy, like Buddhism. Not that components of that life are bad. Focus and seeking Enlightenment and meditation are awesome... worthy endeavors...
and are actually core to a Christian Life.
Focus (on Him alone) ... this is Christianity.
Seeking absolute truth (enlightenment) ... Only found in seeking Him... Christianity.
Meditation (on Him, His purpose, His truth) ... Christianity.
The thing is, Islam is not 100% wrong. It's mostly wrong, but it has some truth in there. This is truth that is also part of Christianity. But that smidgen of Truth is what lures so many to stay Muslim. Same with Buddhism, Hinduism, even secular humanism. They have some things right, but they are predominantly wrong. Only Christianity is 100% right and true. But this is only apparent and obvious from the top of the mountain. You must first acknowledge the mountain, choose to climb the mountain, then see it clearer and clearer and clearer (a.k.a. true enlightenment) as you ascend.
The next step is 3) do something about it. It is fine and well to 1) hear and 2) apply our hearts to understand. But without 3) action based on what we understand, we are "dead". James says this clearly and bluntly... "Faith without works is dead". It is a dead understanding, in that it is flaccid and useless.
Lord, help me. I now understand, but I am lazy, afraid... I don't know what else. Break the chains that hold me back from a life fully pointed at you and for you.
I am with you.
You are with me.
And I thank you for this.
It's in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
