Our Current Times
We live in exciting and challenging, yet frustrating and even downright dishonest times! So, what is TRUTH? Is a lie really so bad if it results in the desired outcome? For decades politicians have made statements and promises they know aren’t true or likely to be accomplished, yet, there is ZERO accountability by the press or even many of us who find it somehow acceptable to say “well, that’s what politicians do.”
Has the façade of so many of our social media pages supplanted our willingness to speak honestly and in truth with each other? What makes us so nervous sometimes to simply speak the truth? This sounds an awful lot like a sin we have to work to avoid – PRIDE! I submit to you that “intellectual dishonesty couched in plausible deniability” may sooth the liar’s soul, but it’s NOT THE TRUTH!
Proverbs 12:22 (NKJV)
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, [b]ut those who deal truthfully are His delight.”
Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
“Pride goes before destruction, [a]nd a haughty spirit before a fall.”
1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
So What’s The Answer?
There is nothing loving about being prideful – and worse yet when it affects our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ! Those who name Jesus as Lord are the children of God. We are called to edify and seek the very best for each other.
When I was in the USAF, we used to say “if you take care of the troops, the troops will take care of you.” This is a form of godly leadership and love, deferring to others first instead of being self-seeking. It allows God to lift you up in His timing and in His way. We don’t love others because we want God to love us; He already does! GOD IS LOVE.
1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV)
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
The Love Of God
God’s love (Agape Love) is the type of love with which the Father loves you and me. It’s not based on emotion or what we can “bring to the table.” It allows us to fulfill God’s directive to love our neighbors (or even our enemies) as ourselves without being selfish or self-centered.
Perhaps the best example of Agape Love in history was Jesus allowing Himself to be tortured and murdered upon the cross. Even as we were dead in our sin, He willingly suffered to bring salvation to you and me, and to everyone who names Jesus as Lord.
Acts 4:12 (Amplified Bible)
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV)
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…”.
The Wisdom of the World
The wisdom of this world tells us that everything is fine and anything goes, so long as it makes us happy. In our natural minds, our thoughts are often carnal and soulish! Is that really wisdom? Do these thoughts bring true joy? As Apostle Paul would say, CERTAINLY NOT!
Sadly, so many in this world simply refuse to even CONSIDER that Jesus is the Answer, let alone humble themselves and accept the truth of the scriptures.
True Wisdom Is Found In Jesus
My brothers and sisters, the take away here is that the “Truth” is a Person and His name is Jesus! The name of Jesus is the ONLY name by which man can be saved!
According to the bible, the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God!
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 3:18-19 (NKJV)
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness [or “cleverness” in the NLT]…’”
This reminds me of a phrase we often say about the person who was “too smart for his own good!”
It seems to this writer that the most often missed TRUTH in this world is found in the very BEST DOCTRINE ever written – John 14:6. As a New Testament believer, if you don’t agree with this scripture, then you aren’t a Christian and you’re at risk of leading others to perdition.
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
Jesus told Thomas that there is one way to salvation and eternal life, and that is through Jesus! No person is reconciled unto the Father (because of our sin), except through Jesus, who shed His sinless blood upon the cross, giving us the righteousness of Christ which we carry as believers (not the filthy rags of our own righteousness).
My brothers and sisters, that should settle the matter! How much more clear does it need to be? AND YET, so many choose to walk in their chains instead of the knowledge of the truth and the freedom offered to those who believe upon the name of Jesus!
John 8:31-32 (ESV)
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, ‘[i]f you abide in [M]y word, you are truly [M]y disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
The Choices We Face
My brothers and sisters, let’s choose life, not death! Consider, if you will, the many contradicting political or spiritual positions and beliefs we face every day, whether through the words of our elected and unelected government officials, school administrators, the press, social media and even from our own well-meaning family members! How much of what we hear, see or read every day is based in biblical truth and worthy of our acceptance and emulation?
Do we really hold and live out a BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW? In my work with Pastor Dewey Moede at For God’s Glory Alone Ministries, this is a key driver and motivator for the entire ministry. Beyond giving glory to God at all times, evangelizing and blessing those in need (including those in the ministry), one of the things I’ve been learning is how to process what I see in the world – EVEN UGLY STUFF – from a biblical world view. Where shall we put our trust – in the wisdom of man or in the wisdom of God?
In Conclusion
I realize this may seem a bit hard to some, but as we go about our days, it can be all too easy to forget that much of what we see in the natural and hear about in our day-to-day lives is: 1) not of the Lord, 2) is not in line with His will for us, or 3) is just simply not true. Frankly, it can be depressing! But, the battle is the Lord’s and He’s already defeated the evil one! Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We can go the bank on that one! As children of God, let’s walk in this understanding and perspective every day!
Praise Jesus forevermore!
