Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word. This week's question:

As we walk upon this earth, we will draw our own conclusions about the complexity or the simplicity of this life, the meaning of it and what happens in the after a while. We will have the same evidences of the heavens and earth before us but different conclusions will be reached. Some will be based on the so called wisdom of this earth as they boast of "scientific fact" which itself changes from generation to generation:

Romans 1:18-22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness of men who

suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for

God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal

power and His divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so

that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give

thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to

be wise, they became fools,

Are they sincere in their conclusions? There is no doubt many of them are and yet as we can see the wrath of God will come upon them as they suppress the truth with the lie that has been accepted by many modern thinkers of the new generation. But all will know the truth on that last day as every knee will bow before Him (Philippians 2:9-12).

But what about the individual who thinks to himself, "I sincerely believe in a God who will accept me although I do not accept many of the teachings of the bible as it seems just too confusing." To begin our search for the last part of our answer to our question we turn to Paul who is still called Saul as he believes in God but does not accept Jesus as the Christ and persecutes His followers:

Acts 8:1-3 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution

began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria,

except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul

began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put

them in prison.

When Saul was on the road to Damascus and was confronted By Jesus, he realized his mistake and followed the instructions of Jesus and did what he "must do" (Acts 9:1-9). Three days later he was baptized into Christ and washed away his sins (Acts 22:16). Paul recounts his former days:

Acts 23:1 Paul, looking intently at the Council , said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly

good conscience before God up to this day."

Now we can see that although Paul was sincere in his ideas about Jesus being an imposter, he was still wrong and would have stood condemned if he had not changed his thoughts concerning Him. So there we have the rest of our answer, as people can be sincere in their conclusions about life and the way they think God will accept them, but God will only accept those who rightly divide (2 Timothy 2:15) His word and obey them:

Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge

and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and

blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through

Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

There is no doubt that our conscience will bear witness of our lives and either accuse us or defend us in the day of Christ just as those gentiles that lived during the time of the Jewish dispensation:

Romans 2:14-15 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law,

these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the law written in their

hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hearts and secrets of men through Christ

Jesus.

Let us hold fast to the word of life with a sincere heart and a clear conscience, so we will not fail the test by sinking shipwreck concerning out faith:

1Timothy 1:18-19 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies

previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good

conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.