INTRODUCTION TO
BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH
My dad always
said, "When all else fails, read the instructions." Normally I
would only follow this advice as a last resort. Almost
everything we purchase comes with an owner's manual. Owner's
manuals not only contain instructions, but also warnings. I
recently purchased a new computer for my office. Thank
goodness the manufacturer did not expect me to instinctively know
how to operate the machine. I was pleased to see that it came
with an owner's manual (including software instructions).
The manual told me
which combination of keys to press in order to get specific desired
results. For instance, if I wanted to generate a legal brief with
certain margins and fonts, I simply went to the appropriate sections
of the manual, did exactly what the instructions told me to do, and
"magically" got the results I wanted. The instructions did not
always seem logical (i.e. who would ever think that to reboot your
computer you would press the "Ctrl," “Alt,” and “Delete” keys
simultaneously--where is the logic there?), but when I trusted the
higher knowledge of the manufacturer and followed the instructions,
the results were always what I wanted. In other words, I knew what
I wanted but just did not know how to accomplish it on my own.
Although I always had the option of ignoring the owner's manual and
using the trial-and-error method, I did not want to waste my time
and achieve a lot of bad results. Therefore, I usually just
followed the instructions.
Isn't life much
the same. We know what we want out of life (happiness, joy, peace,
fulfillment), but we do not know how to get it. So we start
guessing--we just depend on our own senses and start doing whatever
feels good or seems right at the moment. This is called the
trial-and-error method. We soon find that we are making a lot of
mistakes and getting some unintended bad results. For instance, in
an effort to have fun we might decide to press the two keys entitled
"alcohol" and "sex" simultaneously only to find short-lived fun and
long-term pain and problems. At one time or another, we have all
made bad decisions--similar to the owner of a computer who decides
to ignore the owner's manual and begin guessing. But, is there an
owner's manual for life?
We can all agree
that it would have been absurd for Apple or Dell to have created an
advanced computer system and failed to have included an owner's
manual. But wouldn't it have been just as absurd for God to have
created us, far more complex than any computer, and failed to have
included an owner's manual instructing us how to operate our lives
to achieve the best results?
Life is not a
dress rehearsal. Every day is show time. Determining how to
optimally live is therefore the most important discovery a human can
make. The Bible is God's owner's manual for humans. It contains
all of the basic instructions one needs before leaving earth. There
are two alternative methods by which one may live their life: (1)
the trial-and-error method, or (2) the owner's manual method. You
get to choose.
After becoming a
Christian in high school, I began listing all of the good sermons I
heard by jotting down the topics and scriptures in the front of my
Bible. When I began working with teens, I found that many teens
were making bad decisions due to an ignorance of God's specific
instructions (and warnings). In talking with teens and answering
their questions, I often found myself referring to the list in the
front of my Bible. I discovered that teens wanted to know what God
had to say about issues but did not have an easy way to locate the
information. In an attempt to assist with this problem, I typed the
list from the front of my Bible (condensing it to the thirty four
most frequently requested topics; and putting it on a single
page--front and back--which can be folded and kept in the front of a
Bible). The following is the list which is entitled "Basic
Instructions Before Leaving Earth" (B.I.B.L.E.):
BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH (B.I.B.L.E)
Hosea 4:6--"My people perish
for lack of knowledge"
1. Cursing/Dirty
Jokes/Putting Others Down: Matthew 12:34-37 (render account),
15:18 (defile); James 1:26 (religion in vain), 3:5-6 (small but defiles
entire body), 3:10 (blessing and cursing); Proverbs 17:20 (perverted
language), 17:27-28 (cool spirit), 18:7 (fool's mouth), 18:21 (death &
life are in power of tongue), 21:23 (guards mouth); Ephesians 4:29 (no
unwholesome word), 5:3-4 (filthiness, silly talk, dirty jokes); Titus
2:6 (young men, sound speech); 1 Peter 3:10 (refrain); 2 Timothy 2:16
(chatter); Colossians 3:8 (filthy speech, anger), 4:6 (speech seasoned);
1 Timothy 4:12 (youth speech).
2. Drinking/Drugs:
Ephesians 5:18 (do not get drunk); Galatians 5:19 (deeds of
flesh...drunkenness, carousing), 6:7-9 (God is not mocked); 1
Corinthians 6:9 (not inherit kingdom list); 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 (be
sober); 2 Timothy 4:5 (sober in all things); 1 Peter 4:2-4 (don't go to
drinking parties); Romans 13:13 (carousing & drunkenness); Proverbs 20:1
(unwise are intoxicated), 23:20 (don't be with heavy drinkers).
3. Sex: 1
Thessalonians 4:3-8 (God's will=no fornication); Acts 15:20, 28-29 &
21:25 (essentials=no fornication); 1 Corinthians 6:9 (not inherit
kingdom--fornication #1); Hebrews 13:4 (fornicators; marriage bed); 1
Peter 2:11 (aliens abstain fleshly lusts); Romans 8:6 (mind set on flesh
is death), 13:14 (put on J.C.); Galatians 6:7-9 (God not mocked, sows to
flesh=corruption); Romans 12:1 (bodies sacrifice); Galatians 5:16-21
(walk by Spirit=not carry out); 1 Corinthians 6:13-20 (body for Lord);
Ephesians 5:5-7 (immoral); Colossians 3:5 (dead to immorality); Matthew
15:19 (comes out of heart).
4. Friends: 1
Corinthians 15:33 (bad company corrupts your good morals); Prov. 13:20
(walk with wise men), 22:24-25 (don't hang around angry or
hot-tempered), 23:20 (don't be with heavy drinkers), 24:1 (don't be with
evil men), 24:21-22 (don't be with people given to change), 27:17 (iron
sharpens iron; get with iron strong Christians); 2 Tim. 3:2-5 (avoid
kids disobedient to parents, arrogant); Psalms 1:1 (don't be with people
who practice sin); 1 Peter 4:4 (friends surprised at your change);
Ecclesiastes 4:9 (two are better than one); 1 Cor. 5:9-13 (don't be with
immoral Christians); Rom. 12:16 (associate with lowly).
5. Anger: James
1:19 (be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger); Ephesians 4:26
(reconcile & apologize before day ends or gives devil an opportunity),
4:31 (let bitterness & anger be put away, be ye kind one to another);
Proverbs 3:3 (kindness), 10:19 (restrain lips=is wise), 12:18 (healing),
13:3 (guards mouth), 14:29 (slow to anger=great understanding), 15:1
(gentle answer), 16:21 (sweetness of speech=persuasiveness), 16:32 (slow
anger=mighty), 17:27 (restrain words; cool spirit), 18:7 (mouth is
ruin), 18:13 (hear before answer), 15:18 (hot-tempered), 18:21 (death &
life), 21:23 (guard mouth), 22:24 (avoid angry men), 29:11 (a fool
always looses his temper), 29:22 (angry stir up); Ecclesiastes 7:9
(don't be eager to be angry); 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (don't be quarrelsome);
Colossians 3:8 (put aside anger, abusive speech); 1 Thessalonians 5:15
(don't repay evil for evil); Romans 12:17-21 (no evil for evil, burning
coals).
6. Keeping Things Good
Between You And Others/Forgiveness: Matt. 5:23 (if someone has
something against you); Mark 11:25 (if you have something against
someone); Matt. 6:14-15 (God won't forgive you), 18:34-35 (tortured if
will not forgive); Eph. 4:26-27 (God allows anger for one day); Luke
12:58 (settle).
7. Lying:
Proverbs 4:24 (deceitful mouth), 12:22 (lying lips are abomination to
God), 19:22 (better to be poor), 6:16 (list of things God hates--lists
liar twice); Colossians 3:9 (don't lie); Acts 5:3 (only place in N.T.
God struck people dead--was for lying); Revelation 21:8 (liars in lake
of fire), 27 (liars not in Lamb's Book of Life); John 8:44 (Satan is
father of lies); Ephesians 4:25 (speak truth).
8. Stealing:
Exodus 20:15 (Thou shalt not steal); Ephesians 4:28 (steal no longer); 1
Peter 4:15 (no thief in heaven); 1 Corinthians 6:10 (will not inherit
kingdom).
9. Homosexuality:
1 Corinthians 6:9 (not enter kingdom); Leviticus 20:13 (detestable act,
death penalty), 18:22 (don't do, abomination); Romans 1:26-28 (degrading
passion, depraved mind); 1 Timothy 1:9-10 (contrary to sound teaching);
Jude 1:7-8 (strange flesh).
10. Tattoos:
Leviticus 19:28 (make no cuts or tattoo marks on yourself).
11. Thought Life, Lust,
Dirty Magazines/Internet: Matt. 5:28 (thoughts defile), 6:22-23
(fill eyes & mind with good=full of light); Rom. 8:5-8 (mind set on
flesh is death, mind set on spirit is life & peace), 12:1-2 (bodies
living sacrifice, don't be conformed to world, renew mind), 13:14 (put
on J.C., make no provision for flesh); Ps. 101:3 (I will set no vile
thing before my eyes); Philip. 4:8 (whatever is pure...think on these
things); 2 Cor. 10:3-5 (casting down every imagination, taking every
thought captive); Eph. 5:26 (cleansed by washing of water with the
word), 6:12 (our struggle not against flesh & blood); Proverbs 4:23
(watch over your heart); Isaiah 55:7 (let wicked forsake way and
unrighteous man his thoughts); James 1:21 (put aside filthiness and
receive word); Ps. 119:9 (how young man keeps way pure=read word), 105
(lamp & light to path); Col. 3:2 (set mind on things above); Galatians
6:7 (God not mocked); 1 Cor. 2:16 (we have mind of Christ); 1 Peter 2:11
(urge as aliens to abstain from lusts, wages war against soul); James
1:14-15 (tempted when lust=sin=death); Eph. 4:19-24 (put on new self);
Gal. 5:24 (crucified flesh).
12. Prejudice Not
Allowed/Others Before Self: Col. 3:11; 1 Sam. 16:7 (look at
heart, not appearance); Jn. 7:24 (don't judge by appearance); 2 Cor.
5:16 (recognize no man according to the flesh); Eph. 6:9 & Rom. 2:11 (no
partiality with God); 1 Jn. 2:9-11 (hates brother=in darkness), 3:15
(hates=murderer), 4:20 (if can't love person, can't love God); Prov.
14:21 (despises neighbor=sin); Levit. 19:16-18, Mark 12:31 & Matt. 22:39
(love neighbor as self); Luke 10:29-37 ("neighbor" was different race);
Philip. 2:3-5 (regard others more important than self); 1 Cor. 10:24
(seek good for others); Rom. 12:10 (give preference to others), 12:18
(be at peace with all), 15:2 (please neighbor); Jn. 13:34 & 15:12,17
(new command=love others); Matt. 7:12 (do unto others); 1 Jn. 3:23
(believe + love others); James 4:4 (speak not against brother).
13. Parents/Children:
Exodus 20:12 (honor parents=long life), 21:15 (strikes=death), 21:17
(curses=death); Mark 7:10 (speaks evil=death); Deuteronomy 27:16 (your
life will be cursed if dishonor); Ephesians 6:1 (children obey);
Colossians 3:20 (be obedient); Romans 1:30 (disobedient to
parents=depraved mind); Leviticus 19:3 (reverence mom & dad); Proverbs
1:8 & 6:20 (follow parent’s instructions), 20:20 (lamp will go out,
23:22 (listen to dad, don't despise mom); 2 Timothy 2:24 (don't be
quarrelsome).
14. Discipline By Parents:
Prov. 12:1 (loves discipline=loves knowledge), 13:24 (spares rod=hates
child), 19:18-20, 22:15 (foolishness is bound up in child's heart),
23:13 (delivers child's soul), 29:15 (child who gets his way), 22:6
(train up child), 29:15 (gives wisdom), 29:17 (correct=will comfort),
13:1 (wise accepts discipline), 15:5 (fool rejects), 19:18 (while hope),
19:20 (accept discipline), 1:8 (parents' instructions).
15. One Life/No
Reincarnation: Hebrews 9:27 (once to die & then judgment).
16. Bible/T.A.G.(time
alone with God): Psalms 119:105 (word=flashlight to path),
119:9-11 (keeps me from sinning); Joshua 1:8 (learn Bible=will have
success); 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (inspired by God & good for training, equips
you for your life); Proverbs 4:20 (life & health), 5:23 (instruction);
Isaiah 55:11 (word not return empty without succeeding in matter God
sent it); 2 Cor. 4:16 (inner man renewed day by day).
17. Temptation: 1
Cor. 10:13 (not allow tempted beyond able); Hebrews 4:15 (J.C. was
tempted in all things), 2:18 (comes to our aid); 2 Peter 2:9 (rescues
us).
18. Repent and Confess:
Matt. 3:2 (John), 4:17 (Jesus); Acts 2:38 (Peter), 20:21 (repent+faith),
3:19, 3:26; 2 Cor. 7:9-10 (sorrow=repentance=salvation); 2 Timothy 2:25;
2 Peter 3:9; Proverbs 28:13 (conceals sin); James 5:16 (to one another);
1 John 1:9 (if confess); Acts 24:16 (blameless conscience), 26:20
(deeds).
19. Jesus Comes Into You:
2 Corinthians 13:5 (J.C. is in you); Romans 8:10 (Christ in you); John
17:26 (I in them); Colossians 1:27 (mystery=Christ in you); Galatians
2:20 (Christ lives in me); 2 Corinthians 6:16.
20. One Way: John
14:6 (I am the way), 3:18 (judged already), 3:36 (believes=eternal
life); Acts 4:12 (salvation in no one else); 1 Timothy 2:5 (one
mediator); 1 John 2:23 (denies Son=not have Father); 1 John 5:12 (not
have Son= not have life).
21. Our Power Over Satan:
1 John 3:8 (destroy works of devil), 4:4 (greater is He that is in you),
5:18-19 (evil one does not touch); James 4:7-8 (resist devil--don't
ignore--and he will flee from you, draw near to God, not double-minded);
1 Peter 5:8 (roaring lion--no teeth), 5:9 (resist & God will strengthen
& establish you); Ephesians 6:12 (not flesh & blood, armor); 2
Corinthians 10:3 (weapons divinely powerful); Romans 16:19-20 (crush
Satan); Colossians 2:15 (display); 2 Corinthians 4:4 (blinded eyes).
22. Eternal Life:
1 Timothy 6:16 (only He possesses); John 17:3 (eternal life is to know
thee and J.C.); 1 John 2:25 (He promised), 5:11-13 (that you may know
you have it).
23. If Keep Sinning:
Hebrews 10:26-31 (no longer remains sacrifice); 2 Peter 2:20-22 (dog
returns to vomit); John 14:15 (if love me, you'll keep my commandments);
1 John 2:4 (says "I know Him" but not keep his commandments=liar), 3:8-9
(no one born of God practices sin); 1 John 2:15 (do not love the world);
Luke 6:46 (Lord, Lord); Matthew 7:21 (not everyone who says Lord, Lord),
7:26 (hears & not acts); Psalm 66:18 (if I regard wickedness He not hear
me); Isaiah 59:2 (sin=God not hear); Proverbs 13:21 (adversity pursues
sinners); 2 Chronicles 15:2 (if forsake Him, He'll forsake you); 1 Jn.
3:6 (practices sin=devil).
24. Jesus Claims He Is
God: Matthew 27:43; Mark 14:62; John 4:25-26, 14:9, 10:30,
10:36, 18:37, 12:45, 5:18.
25. Jesus Is Called "God":
John 1:1; John 20:28 ("my Lord & my God"); Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13;
Hebrews 1:8, 1:10; 2 Peter 1:1; Colossians 2:9 (see also 2:3, 2:8); Acts
4:12, 20:28; 1 John 5:20 (“Jesus Christ. This is the true
God.”).
26. Fortune Tellers:
Leviticus 19:31 (defiles), 20:6 (if turn to them God will set His face
against you), 20:27 (death penalty); Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (witchcraft,
sorcerer, medium, or calls up dead--God detests).
27. Obey The Law:
Romans 13:1-4 (be subject to governing authorities; police are ministers
of God).
28. Dating: 2
Corinthians 6:14 (date Christians, be equally yoked).
29. Don't Conform To
World: Rom. 12:2 (don't conform); 1 Jn. 2:15 (don't love world);
James 4:4 (friendship with world=hostility toward God); 2 Cor. 6:17 (be
separate).
30. Church: Ex.
20:8; Isaiah 58:13-14; Hebrews 10:25.
31. Fighting:
Rom. 12:18-21 (never take own revenge).
32. Trials: Rom.
5:3 (trial=character); 2 Cor. 4:17-18 (affliction); James 1:2; 1 Pet.
4:12, 5:8-10; Rev. 3:19 (discipline/repent).
33. Smoking: 1
Cor. 6:19 (body=temple), 9:27 (body as slave), 2 Cor. 7:1 (defiles).
34. Divorce: Matt. 5:32, 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke
16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:17.
ŠKC94-07
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