The immediate context of this verse is applying to mediums and psychics, but the general idea is this: anything other than God is death, for life is found only in Him (John 1:1, 4; 17:3). It is amazing the things we will turn to (even psychics) instead of our Father in Heaven. Christ's death has opened the way to the throne of grace, and yet we will walk down every other path and swim into every other side eddy under the sun before turning to the only true source of peace, hope, understanding, wisdom, and truth. Why do we not believe that life is found only in God, and all other ways (no matter how pretty, noble, or logical) are the paths of the dead?
"What if the family turned to Jesus, stopped asking Oprah what to do," said Casting Crowns. It is a novel thought, and sad that it is novel. What are we thinking? Turn off Oprah and Dr. Phil. Put down your self-help books, positive-thinking guides, and Joel Olsteen best-sellers. Throw away the numbers and e-mail addresses of therapeutic and psychic hotlines. Cut out all the middlemen, and go straight to the Source: get down on your knees and pray to your Father, the Lord Almighty, Who will "answer thee, and show the great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33:2, 3)
Says the old hymn, "Oh what peace we often forfeit! Oh what needless pain we bear! All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!" Let us get back to believing that life is as simple as praying to our Father. Let us cut out the subterfuge, claim that Christ's triumph at the Cross has removed all barriers between us and God, and boldly declare, "No more middlemen!" Why seek ye life amongst the dead, peace amongst the confused, wholeness amongst the broken? Take your burdens to your Father, the Living God of the Universe, and deliberately leave them there. (see Psalm 55:22)
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