Do Not "Assume" ANYTHING!

One of the wisest men I have ever known told me, quite a number of times, "Learn not to assume anything!" He went on to point out that a great many common assumptions were simply not true.

Yet, many people assume all sorts of falsehoods that are, in fact, not true! Such assumptions can lead to extremely serious mistakes in judgment—and can ruin our lives physically, mentally and spiritually if we are not careful!

Most of us remember that for hundreds of years most people assumed the world was flat. People today laugh about how silly that assumption was. But which of today's "assumptions" will we soon consider even sillier?

A few decades ago, the medical establishment commonly told mothers not to breastfeed their babies. Doctors assumed that various formulas were better than a mother's own breast milk. Yet, today, in the highest scientific and medical circles, it is clearly understood that the mother's own breast milk has been "programmed" (so they say, to avoid giving credit to a Creator) to give the best nourishment to her own baby. Also, it was commonly assumed in medical circles that male circumcision was "barbaric" and entirely unnecessary. Yet, today, we read that many doctors and medical leaders have come to realize that male circumcision is extremely beneficial for health in various ways.

Another common assumption is that all the professing Christian churches are really "Christian." Yet many of these churches teach a number of doctrines and practices directly opposite those which your Bible clearly reveals. Should we assume that ministers are "Christian" when their teachings and practices are diametrically opposed to what the Bible plainly teaches?

Remember, the Bible exhorts us to prove any idea to be sure it is correct. We read: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV). The Berean Christians were complimented "in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). Notice that they were not necessarily disproving what Paul was saying. Rather, they kept a genuinely "open mind" and were willing to search throughout the Bible to see if what Paul was saying matched up with the Scriptures. That, my friends, is profound advice for all of us! Do you do that?

Think! Where do you get the doctrines that you believe? Where does your church really get those doctrines? Out of the Bible? Are you sure?

Consider how most "mainstream" ministers say that God promises that the faithful Christian's reward will be eternal life in heaven. People take this for granted. But is it what the Bible actually says? I have for many years offered a $1,000 reward to anyone who could prove to me from the Bible that God promises "going to heaven" as the eternal reward of the Christian. And for decades, no one has been able to claim this $1,000.

Why? Because the Bible clearly indicates, over and over, that the reward of the Christian is to reign on this earth­ — not up in heaven! In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth " (Matthew 5:5). And Jesus Christ directly stated, "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven" (John 3:13).

Did Jesus Christ know what He was talking about? Surely, if we go to heaven, then Abraham—the "father of the faithful"—would be there. So, too, would be the prophet David—the "man after God's own heart." And what about Elijah, whom many assume was "taken up to heaven" in a whirlwind. How could Jesus possibly say that no one has ascended to heaven except Himself?

He could say this because He taught the Truth! The Truth is that God's word clearly shows that the patriarchs, the prophets and the true saints of God are to assist Christ in the Kingdom of God that Jesus Christ will establish on this earth after the coming resurrection from the dead. The Bible clearly states that, at the last trump, "Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The　kingdoms of this world have become　the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15). So, Jesus will soon rule over the "kingdoms of this world "— not up in heaven! Earlier, the book of Revelation describes these words of praise to Christ, "for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made　us kings and priests to our God; and　we shall reign on the earth " (5:9–10).

The Apostle Paul rhetorically asked, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?" (1 Corinthians 6:2). Here we see clearly that the saints will "judge the world "— not go off to heaven with nothing to do! This entire passage clearly shows that God's true saints—members of His true Church—are to be "in training," preparing now to be those future kings and priests who will assist Christ in ruling over the nations on this earth in Tomorrow's World.

Speaking of His true saints, Jesus Christ states, "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—'He　shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'—as I also have received from My Father" (Revelation 2:26–27).

If God's faithful overcomers will rule over the nations with a "rod of iron," it is obvious that they will not be up in heaven. Are there nations in heaven that need to be ruled over with a rod of iron? Of course not!

So, how can people possibly believe all of this stuff about "going to heaven" when the Bible continually says otherwise? The answer is obvious. Most people just want to "get along." So, they almost automatically believe whatever they are taught by family and friends. If they had grown up in Nazi Germany, they might have assumed that Hitler was a great man. If they had grown up in a Muslim country, they might have assumed that their prophet Muhammad was even greater than Jesus Christ.

What is the genuine solution to this quandary?

The ultimate solution will come when all human beings prove to themselves that there is a real God—the Creator and Ruler of all nations. Then, they must also prove to themselves that the Holy Bible is, in fact, in its original form the inspired revelation from God. And they must then be willing to believe the Bible—and do what it says!

That sounds very simple. But extremely few people on this earth have ever proved, or been willing to act on, those basic facts! Are you?

If you are, you will find that the Bible gives clear explanations for the problems facing humanity in the areas of physical, mental and—obviously, most important of all—spiritual health. Although it is not a technical book in mathematics or science, the Bible reveals the foundational approach to all aspects of human knowledge and understanding. It is the Truth — for it is inspired by the God who gives us life and breath.

If you will truly learn to study the Bible deeply, as the "foundation of knowledge," you will learn much about the real origin of nations. You will develop the correct understanding of our relationships on this earth as males and females. You will recognize the right form of government that will eventually take over the earth. You will gain precious insight into how to treat fellow human beings, how to build your mental and physical health and how to gain eternal life in the coming Kingdom of God—the very Family of God that I describe in my article "What Is the MEANING of Your Life?" on page 4 of this magazine. You will learn how to fulfill the ultimate purpose for which God placed you on the earth.

So please do not "assume" anything! Learn to prove diligently and genuinely what is true—and ask God for the intellectual and spiritual courage to act on that Truth. If you do this, you will never regret it!