Some of the most popular shows on television are and have been home improvement shows: This Old House, Fixer Upper, and Trading Spaces. Likewise, some of the most frequented stores are Home Depot and Lowes. Why? Well, first of all, most of us would like to save money, and if you can do it yourself, then you can often save quite a bit of money. But secondly, most of us take a certain amount of pride in knowing that we can take care of the problem ourselves and not have to rely on an expert, thereby proving to ourselves and others that we are not helpless but in control.

One of the first indications that a baby is turning into a toddler is the inevitable desire to “do it him- or herself,” without help. And this independence is a good thing as we mature. However, as we grow older many of us take this “do-it-yourself independence” a bit too far and end up in some sticky situations, and with a far greater problem than when we started. And what happens? We have to call in an expert.

In the same way, many of us have this same desire for independence and DIY when it comes to our salvation. We want to be able to earn it ourselves and for the same reason: it doesn’t cost us as much, and it feeds our pride and control. This is one of the appeals of many of the world religions and the rejection of Christianity. Every religion, except Christianity, requires that a person do something to be saved and reach heaven. In very simple terms here are a few of the beliefs.

Buddhism teaches that a person must follow an Eightfold Path and live “in the right manner and with the right intentions.”

Confucianism is similar in that one concentrates on “appropriate behavior.”

Hinduism: Believes one has to be freed from the “cycle of reincarnation” and that can only be achieved by ridding oneself of bad karma. A person can do this by either selflessly serving a particular god, understanding the nature of the universe, or having the actions to appease the gods.

Islam: Fully obeying Allah sufficiently and having more good deeds than bad deeds.

Judaism: Jews believe that they can lose their salvation through sin but can regain it through “repentance, good deeds, and a life of devotion.”

(Check out all the other religions and you will find the same thing.)

Only Christianity requires nothing of the individual except to accept that Jesus is God, to believe he died on the cross for one’s sins and was raised from the dead, and to turn one’s life over to Him. No works will achieve this. Ephesians 2:8-9 spells it out very clearly: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (English Standard Version).

This approach is nothing new with God. He has always worked in a way where a person could not take the credit: Gideon’s army being reduced to 300 men armed with torches and clay jars, the Israelites crossing of the Red Sea, the feeding of the 5,000. In more modern times, Brother Andrew’s multiple crossings through iron curtain countries with illegal bibles, and scores of other personal stories about God’s ability to supply financial and material needs in the most unexpected manner.

Yes, we all want to be able to do everything ourselves. We want to be an active participant and feel like we have some control and part in our achievements. But when it comes to salvation, the only SURE way is to know that there is nothing we have to do.
 
(gotQuestions?org: Got Questions Ministries. 2016, Web. 14 Nov. 2016.)
 

Well, the new president has been elected and amid all the reactions and projections and predictions there is a very important process being completed, and that is the formation of the transition team. The transition team not only includes his new Cabinet but also government department and agency heads.

The people with whom President-elect Trump chooses to surround himself will tell the world a lot about him, his beliefs, his goals, his priorities, and the direction he would like to take the country. Because of this, the nation and the world are scrutinizing and dissecting his choices, for these people will help him make crucial decisions and policies. These people will have some power in shaping how the US is seen in the world, how it interacts with other countries, and how it values its citizens. This is serious business.

Likewise, our lives are full of changes and transitions (high school to college, college to the workforce, marriage to singleness, financial stability to loss, friendship to loneliness, full health to illness—or vice versa for any of these—as well as lifestyle and belief changes). During our times of transition, whether we realize it or not, we too are picking a transition team. We decide on who we will bring into our inner circle to help us clarify thoughts and make decisions. And this too is serious business.

There is an unattributed quote that says, “You become like the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose carefully.” Hmmmm. The Bible reinforces this thought when it says, “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26), and again in Proverbs 13:20 when it says, “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”  Then Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

There are a lot of voices in the world, all clamoring to get our attention, and Satan has both the loudest and softest of all, for he not only shouts apparent justice and truth from the steps of the Supreme Court, but he will also whisper uncertainties and lies into our ears.

On his website, Philip Kosloski reminds us of three ways to know if the voice we are hearing is of Satan or God. It is from Satan if 1) It contradicts God’s commandments, 2) It creates anxiety rather than peace, and 3) It accuses us and brings us down, rather than reminding us that God values us and sees our worth.

As you go through life, choose carefully those people whom you pull close to you, for they have the power to uplift or destroy you.