Today, it seems that anyone can "find religion". There truly is a 'wide gate' to go into. In today's "do-it-yourself" world, not only can you find religion, you can custom make it the way you want it. Just think, without leaving the comfort of your own home, you can "go" every Sunday to the church of your choice via the radio or television no matter how far away it may be. If you like large churches and there isn't one near you, there's plenty on television. Or, perhaps you are the smaller church type. Do not dismay, those are out there too. The music you listen to comes over your own sound system and is performed by all of the hottest professional musicians. And then there is the study material. There has got to be more Bible study topics out there than there are people to study them. Just zip right down to the bookstore or pick up the mail order catalog and customize your own 'adventure with God'. There are more Bible translations and study aids than you can imagine. And all this material teaches you how to do it right along with every other religious philosophy there is because, after all, we are all going to the same place-aren't we?

Maybe the sarcasm above was a little much and then, maybe not. One almost wonders how people had any fun back years ago. Even the churches have been drawn into the delirium. Many churches have become very creative in devising ways to get people back in the pew. Churches today look more like the world did a few decades ago than churches did a few decades ago. Church emphasis today seems to be spent more on providing a wholesome place for fun to be had than a place to worship God. Many people today enjoy good clean fun which is great. Church, like no other place, has become the place to provide that fun. Now, if you like sports, you can get them at church, they've just built a multimillion dollar sportsplex. The emphasis is beginning to focus more on mind and body than the soul. You can now pump iron at church and yet not know what 'taking up your cross' is about. But most importantly, it is at the church that one can hopefully find the God-sent preacher. This is a man who has been equipped by God himself to deliver the message of God to you. He has God given wisdom and discernment. Read the following scripture. Notice how God worked in the church at Thessalonica and subsequently other parts of the world by a God sent preacher named Paul. Notice too that it was the will of God that they 'follow'' Paul.

1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 reads,

"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

When Paul wrote, "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction" it is hard to believe that they met Paul at a church aerobics class.

So what makes people ever want to attend a church anyway just to hear some preacher? Could it be that they might be starving for God? Granted, most people are not hungry for God. But some people out there are. (Yes, there are few people like that to which Matthew 7:14 attests.) They want to know the 'living and true God' as a real person, not just a philosophy. "What ever makes them think about that" you ask? By talking to someone who truly knows God.

In closing, consider this illustration. The cells in the body get the vital nutrient glucose through a little 'door' in the cell membrane called a receptor. That door is opened by a 'doorman' called insulin. No matter how much glucose may be in the blood, if insulin is not there to open the receptor and allow the glucose in, the body will suffer and eventually die. The cells may literally be surrounded by glucose but without insulin, the glucose is worthless. The point is this. Do you want to enter the kingdom of heaven? Your ears are the receptors. Glucose is the word of God. The Holy Spirit is the insulin. The blood vehicle where the insulin and the glucose are is the God sent preacher. Therefore, for you to have faith (which comes by hearing the word of God), your ears must be opened to hear the words that are brought by the God sent preacher.

1 Corinthians 1:21 reads, "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

Listen to him. Listen and obtain faith. Romans 10:14-17 reads,

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Expect God to reveal himself to you when you seek him diligently. Hebrews 11:6 reads, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Seek God by putting yourself in a place where there is a God sent preacher who introduce to the true and living God.