Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Truth Is...


Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-- the LORD detests them both.  Isaiah 5:20, Proverbs 17:15

These statements sure do encompass a lot of what we see in this world and more specifically in too many ways in this country. When did it all start, this politically correct attitude, this lack of immorality, lack of conscience, lack of wisdom...lack of truth? Well, it's been awhile since my last post and I guess I'm making up for it here.

I know God is in control. He's working not only in my life but the lives of others I know, putting us through difficult situations or uncovering our innermost faults that we might seek Him for strength, comfort, peace or most importantly, change within ourselves.

Change in the world starts with each one of us. But it all starts with having a knowledge of truth. And then there's the understanding that there is only one Truth. That Truth is Jesus Christ. And I know I bring this up a lot and my story never changes...just as God never changes. Jesus is the solution to all the world's problems. Yet I know we will always have problems because not all believe Jesus is the answer. There is one truth only. It's not up for interpretation.

Only Jesus offers up the honest truth, despite how hard it may be at times. He never promised it would be easy to follow Him. In fact, it is sometimes difficult. We are told some things must be let go of in order to follow Him. A change needs to take place in our lives. We cannot remain the same persons. He gave each of us a character and nature when He created us. It won't always be completely changed but He'll enhance it. He'll take the yuck out what we made of it and turn it into something more palatable.

The honest truth today is no longer what it used to be. It's been distorted. Truth has been exchanged for a lie as scripture states. What's sad is people take offense to that when it has been laid out plainly for us for thousands of years. God never changes; His Word changeth not; truth cannot be compro-mised...although it has.

Let me point out that in all things we are not to hate any person. It is the sin we are not to tolerate. Sounds judgmental or holier than thou, but it's more of the truth. Man has, for the most part, rebelled against God. He hates sin so we are to hate it too. He wishes that none should perish, but that we would see our sin as He does and allow the change within to take place. And as I so often think, what seems like an impossible task, a change that seems way too big, to God it is nothing. We have to believe the change can be done...not through our own devices (self help books, psychotherapy or believing we can just will ourselves to do a thing) but only through the power of Jesus Christ when He is sought and received.

So what are some of those (hard) truths??  Remember, God wants to make us holy. He's looking for a bride without spot or wrinkle in the last days when He returns. Not all will fit the bill...unless He works a change in us. Apart from the Ten Commandments, of which some are listed here, there are more:
Proverbs 6:16-19 - These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.
Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Leviticus 20:6,12-13 - And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law (or mothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, you get the picture), both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood shall be upon them. If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. 

Now people can debate these issues and find excuse. I know there are many who will say these do not apply to them or none of these things are in them. But we all carry something; we've all done something. We cannot debate these truths. We cannot justify. If a person does they are believing the lie, twisting the truth to suit personal ideas of right and wrong. It's no doubt why the world is in the state it's in today. It's all about self. To be honest I believed a lot of these things God would excuse because He loves us. The truth is because He loves us He has to put boundaries in our lives...and some day those boundaries will put us one side or the other of eternal life...in Christ or in hell. A hard truth. This is a message for me as well as the next person.

You can disagree with what I've said. If you do it's not really me you disagree with but God. Another hard truth. These hard truths are why the Bible says it's a narrow road, this following Jesus...His way is difficult and few are able to travel it. I'll tell you, the fear of the Lord is the deciding factor for me. A reverent fear for the power He has in our lives and the power He has in this world.

We are nearing the end. The days we live in are proof. They have been outlined for us in God's Word. His Word (both real in the form of Jesus and as the written Word of God) is truth. Do you know the Truth? Just before Jesus was sentenced to be crucified Pontius Pilate tried to make sense of the whole situation of who Jesus was. He asked Jesus "What is truth?" Truth was standing before him but he received Him not.

Jesus came into the world that His truth would be heard...His testimony. He said to Pilate that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice. That hard word comes from the Truth. There are many who cannot hear His voice over the deceptive lies from another who vies for our attention and our lives. So I ask again. Do you know the Truth?

1John 2:3-5 - Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

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