The palatial mansion sat serenely on acres of well watered lawns, majestic trees and beautiful manicured hedges and foliage. Its architecture of massive stones accented with a stunning stone front porch and decorative brick columns; showed off a contemporary one level design. Walking through the double front doors you were immediately drawn past the living room to the back of the house where huge plate glass windows overlooked a manmade lake with a pier and small boats.



The house had many different levels with an elevated living room adorned with multiple built in curio cabinets at the opening surrounded by chairs and sofas fashioned in the art deco design. On the right side of the room, stood a massive stone pillar with a built in fireplace. Taking up the entire opposite side, plants were curved around a water fall that spilled out onto water ways that winded under slate tiles as if you were in the middle of a river bed. The only way to go through the entry by this tranquil scene was by stepping over slate tiles placed among the many river like paths.

My eyes were mesmerized as I gazed at the attention-grabbing view and marveled at the extraordinary architecture parading through each room and flowing outside the structure of the mansion. The different dimensions and levels of the house reflected a grand life of wealth. Off to the right of the house set back out of sight of the main property was the residence of the live-in servants. Everything reflected lives that had attained a certain amount of reputation and old wealth passed on from generation to generation.

As my eyes scanned the scene once more, an unexpected emptiness invaded my senses. A feeling that something important was missing from the house. Once again I looked inside the mansion and in a small enclosure next to the entrance to the living room, stood an idol representing the god of wealth and prosperity.

Acts 17: 22-28, "Paul stood up in front of the city council and said, 'I see that in every way you Athenians are very religious. For as I walked through your city and looked at the places of worship, I found an altar on which is written, 'To an unknown God.' That which you worship, then, even though you do not know it, is what I now proclaim to you. God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in man-made temples. Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him, since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything else to everyone. From one man he created all races of mankind and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live. He did this so that they would look for him, and perhaps find him as they felt around for him. Yet God is actually not far from any one of us; as someone has said, 'In him we live and move and exist.' It is as some of your poets have said, 'We too are his children.'

We live in a world where people create meditating Zen rooms in order to bring peace into their chaotic lives. They seek peace because they realize our world is filled with many pit falls that lead to unforeseen difficulties. Problems that every person must face from job loss, loss of wealth, health concerns and natural disasters. This is the reason why many people reach out for more than the physical world; instead they seek the truth behind a spiritual existence.

In searching for peace many practice religions that are based on meditation. Clearing your thoughts of everything that fills your mind with negative thinking. It is a proven fact that people feel better when they let go of the problems and strive to focus on more positive things. They even support doing this when a person is fighting a life threatening disease by having them focus on eradicating the bad cells.

There are many religions in the world and all have some very fine values that can help a person as they cope with the bad things that happen. But none reveal the reason why a person is going through a life changing problem as clear as the message of Jesus Christ. Jesus takes our prayers and reveals the purpose behind the creation of the world. He leads us to paths that direct us to fight against evil by asking Him for help. Instead of mediation for the purpose of clearing your mind, He tells us through prayer, who created the disease and how to combat the problem.

1 Corinthians 2: 6&7, "Yet I do proclaim a message of wisdom to those who are spiritually mature. But it is not the wisdom that belongs to this world or to the powers that rule this world-powers that are losing their power. The wisdom I proclaim is God's secret wisdom, which is hidden from mankind, but which he had already chosen for our glory even before the world was made.

We live in a world that teaches all people the difference between right and wrong through the struggles they face in life. That means there must be unseen powers and forces that influence our thinking. There must be words spoken deep within the recesses of our mind that guide us either to paths of love or paths that encourage us to do evil. This is where the searching for the reason behind our existence begins. This is when we can be caught up by the different expressions represented by manmade gods, gods that do not teach us the reason why God made us in the first place.

Acts 17: 29-31, "Since we are God's children, we should not suppose that his nature is anything like an image of gold or silver or stone, shaped by the art and skill of man. God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now he commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways. For he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death!"

No other religion promises the ability to raise a dead person back to life. No one, but Jesus Christ tells us that if we trust Him and learn about Him we will feel relief from our present situation. This is the reason it is so important that meditation is changed to praying for protection against the spirits that try to destroy our lives. Evil spirits that create diseases, job loss, and natural disasters. Evil spirits that tell us to follow practices that do not lead to the saving power found in the message about Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6: 12, "For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age."

When you practice religions that are separate from the knowledge of Jesus Christ then you open yourself up to beliefs that take you down evil paths. Spiritual influences that destroy the good teaching of Jesus and turn them into teachings that make you focus on yourself and what makes you feel good at the moment. This is opposite from the teaching of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants us to come to spiritual revelations about how doing good to others is better than rewarding ourselves with riches. Jesus' sacrifice is an example of what God desires for people's lives. Jesus coming alive again gives everyone hope that all will rise to a better life. A life free from the persecutions that happen to people in an imperfect world.

False gods demand that we think about ourselves and not others. This is why meditation rooms are so popular, because it is all about us. It is about having power, riches and people serving you. Jesus Christ wants us to help the homeless. Give up a kidney to help a person live. Give blood for the preservation of life. Do for others without expecting anything in return.

We live in a world that is at war on a spiritual realm of the unseen. A war fought by Jesus Christ against all evil spirits that lead them away from knowing the one and only true God. A God of love and compassion. A God that formed each person to come to know Him as we travel the journey of life that leads us to spiritual revelations. Knowledge that can only be gained when we learn the difference between good and bad. Choosing Jesus is making the very best choice for your life.

The house stood firm upon its foundation of wealth and idol worship, but in the end when the people passed away, it was torn down. "A House is not a Home without God!" Strive to put the teachings of Jesus Christ into your life and you will not be persuaded to follow a manmade God.