The countless number of religions and divisions within them in the world are a reflection of the endless possibilities of deviation away from God that can be imagined. Still, there is only one God who is over all and above all, and the only way to know Him is by Him.

Therefore, the Lord, knowing the hearts of all men, chose from among them those whom he would use to reveal himself to the world. And as light excels darkness, so the word given to them by the Holy Ghost is greater than all the false doctrines and beliefs that exist.

The power of God—evidenced by miracles, signs, dreams, and visions in the days of the prophets—was manifest through His people that in due time would be made available for all men. Jeremiah foretold of a time to come when God would make a New Covenant, not written on tables of stone: “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:32-33).

Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who, when he ascended on high, led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.

As prophesied by Joel, those gifts were poured out by the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus who were gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost—and they remained in one accord, being of the same mind and spirit, searching the scriptures daily to confirm all things that were written.

Now, however, the modern era of technology and mass communication has brought with it the mass commercialization of all things, including religion. Like the money changers in the temple, many teachers of faith have adopted business models of advertising to compete in the marketplace of doctrines to grow their following.

Employing marketing techniques to grow and maintain large congregations, purveyors of false teachings give more weight to the enlargement of congregations than to the word of God. Cleaving to the doctrines of men—seminary instructions, religious traditions, and the writings of high-profile figures of antiquity—they depart from the true faith, ignoring the express word of God written in the scriptures.

Removing the older items from the shelf that are no longer selling well, they replace them with newer products that they believe today’s culture will buy. They have become little more than grocery stores of theology catering to the demands of shoppers.

Stripping the Bible of its hard sayings, false disciples speak smooth words that scratch itching ears. Investing heavily in advertisements and commercials disguised as the gospel, they present a form of godliness that lacks the power of God.

They do not know the way of the Spirit. They are unlike the wind Jesus spoke of to Nicodemus. They trust in their own wisdom, follow their own spirit, and imitate God. Therefore, the power present in the Apostles and the earlier followers of Jesus is denied them.

Responding to the obvious lack of spiritual fruit, some teach that God has ceased his miraculous works, saying that the former outpouring of the Spirit is a thing of the past. Others fabricate ‘miracles’ to substitute for being denied the true power of God.

Thus, the sum of those professing Christ today cannot give witness to the power of God evident in the early church in Jerusalem, and many are alienated from the faith. Even so, there remain those like there were in Sardis, of whom the Lord said, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.”

The apostles warned that the time would come when people would no longer endure sound doctrine but would heap to themselves many teachers. Even reading these verses, many are blind to the errors of their faith. Like the followers of Judaism are blind to its falsehoods and like Muslims are blind to their fabrications, so also among those who proclaim Christ—while rightly acknowledging him as Messiah and Savior—many are blind to the fallacies being embraced among an overwhelming number of practitioners of the faith.

The proliferation of confusion in the world today is a witness against the false teachings. Wherever there is an absence of truth, a void exists for every lie to fill. The greatest darkness is when the light in you is darkness, but you still believe that you see.

The great apostasy prophesied to come upon the world has come, but it is not absolute. There remain some whose faith and hope are like those who were in Sardis; they place all their trust in God alone. They are not persuaded or led astray by entrenched religious traditions or modern inventions of men. They will spread the light, and many who see will come to it. The body of Christ will come together throughout the world as in the “Valley of Dry Bones”—a great army. They will live—”He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken,” not one of them is lost.