Whose side are you on?

Gratification...Physical or Spiritual...That's all there is in life. One or the other. Everything we do in life satisfies one of these two desires. We work to make enough money to satisfy our physical needs and desires; and many of us participate in "religious" activities to satisfy the spiritual need. Here is the question...what do those "religious" activities consist of and are they truly capable of spiritual gratification? Are they able to fill us with spiritual satisfaction? Do we even know what spiritual satisfaction is...Do you?

Many of today's religions contain ritualistic behaviors that are meant to make the practicer feel more spiritual. But isn't that more of a physical act? Whether you are standing in a pentagram reciting an ancient incantation to connect you with some higher plane of existence, or kissing your prayer beads, crossing yourself, and saying "Hail Mary" a dozen times; aren't these just physical "rituals" that are used to make us feel more in tune with the "spirit" world? These practices seem to work because we are physical creatures. However, we also have a true spiritual side that needs a true connection with its creator. There is but one bridge between man and the creator...That bridge is Jesus Christ. Please don't stop reading if you disagree, hear me out.

We have a choice to make in life. That choice is to seek one of these two forms of gratification. Here is a story of a man that made his decision and developed a religion based on that decision. This man was an organ player for a carnival back in the mid 1900's. He watched men lust over scantily dressed carnival girls on Saturday night and then show up for a Church service on Sunday and ask for forgiveness only to be back the next Saturday. Later in his life he became a crime scene photographer. During his three year career he saw people shot or stabbed by their own "friends" and children splattered by drunk drivers. In this time he questioned "...where is God in this twisted world?" That is a legitimate question but instead of seeking the answer he made a decision how he was going to allow these events affect his life. He decided that mankind would always seek physical gratification. He became angry with God and chose the other side. He developed a religion based on physical gratification. His philosophies are actually quite prevalent in our society today. It is common practice to achieve success in the business world by stomping on the competition and only being kind to those who "deserve" it. Vengeance is prevalent in our world. These are but a couple of examples. The man I speak of is Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan.

LaVey was dealt a difficult hand in life and he made his decision how he would react to it. He chose a side whose future is written. LaVey chose to side with the devil and his goal was to take as many people with him as possible. In the book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible, one can read for oneself about the fate of the devil and his followers. The devil knows his destiny but he doesn't want to go alone. As they say misery loves company. LaVey died in 1997 at the age of 67, he made his decisions and he will be judged for them and it is too late for him to change his mind.

Please don't take this post the wrong way. I am not trying to "scare the Hell" out of you. I am merely laying out the facts of our world. Each one of us is faced with the difficulties of this life and we have to make a decision. If one chooses Jesus, there is a spiritual connection that can be made with him. That connection is true spiritual gratification, it can only be felt not achieved by rituals, or chanting. Some would say that Jesus is just a crutch, but when you are crippled by the pains of life, then a crutch is just what you need.