A LOVE FOR THE TRUTH

 

A LOVE FOR THE TRUTH

 

What is truth? Truth is absolute. It is fact. It cannot be changed.

Encyclopedia Brittanica records this concerning Truth:

“Truth is the aim of belief; falsity is a fault. People need the truth about the world in order to thrive.  Truth is important. Believing what is not true is apt to spoil people’s plan’s and may even cost them their lives. Telling what is not true may result in legal and social penalties. Conversely, a dedicated pursuit of Truth characterizes the good scientist, the good historian, and the good detective. So what is truth, that it should have such gravity and such a central place in people’s lives?”

Thoreau (whoever that person is) made this statement, “Rather than love, than money, than fame, GIVE ME TRUTH.”

Jesus said in John 8:32, “Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.”

Truth is important!

We live in a day and time when many do not see truth as absolute, solid, and unchanging. They see it as a belief.  One believes one way to be the truth while another believes another way as the truth, regardless of whether it is truly true or not.  If they believe it to be truth, then it is…to them.

Unfortunately, many are twisting the definition of truth.  They claim that truth is merely beliefs and assertions. They now call them ‘alternative facts.’  A fact is a fact and is unchanging.  There are no ‘alternatives’.  One is truth.  One is a lie.

For example: there are many today who believe a man can be a woman or that a woman can be a man.  There are even children in schools who believe they are cats so they place litter boxes in the bathrooms for them to use.

Just because a man believes he is a woman or a child believes they are a cat, does that mean it is true? No!

Anyone who believes those things to be true can come to my house and try to get milk from our bull.   We all know that is impossible. There are things that are facts and cannot be changed no matter how much a person may want or believe it to be different. 

No matter if a person goes through surgery or takes hormones to try to appear to be what they are not, they will still always and forever be the gender they were born as.

Science proves it.  DNA proves it. Even bone structure will forever prove and reveal whether a person is male or female. If bones are found in a secluded area, forensics will help law enforcement determine whether those bones belong to someone who was a male or female, and they also reveal approximately how old that person may have been.  

These are facts that cannot be changed no matter what a person may try to do to change that.  Even plastic surgery and hair dye cannot change the facts of how old a person truly is.

It is sad that despite the facts that cannot be changed or altered, many still refuse to believe the truth. The Bible warns that if we do not believe and receive truth (not our truth but God’s truth) we will be lost eternally.

2 Thessalonians 2

3 – Let no man deceive you by any means:
(don’t let anyone cause you to believe something that isn’t true)
for that day (the Day of Christ – vs 2) shall not come,
EXCEPT there come a falling away first
(meaning people will depart from the Truth),
and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.
(ruin or loss physical, spiritually, or eternally)

10 – And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness
(easily deceived, misled, convinced of something that is not true)
in them that perish;
BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT A LOVE OF THE TRUTH,
that they might be saved.

11 – AND FOR THIS CAUSE
GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION,
that they should believe a lie;

12 – That they all might be damned (lost)
WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH,
BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

They did not want to receive a love of the truth because they loved their sin more.  They did not want to believe or hear anything that would require change and a turning away from the sin they enjoyed doing. They wanted the lie to be truth therefore they became deceived and believed the lie.

It amazes and saddens me that a person will refuse to believe and turn away from committing sin despite being shown Scripture against what they are doing.  They’ll say, “I don’t believe all that!” or “Just talk about God’s love” because they love their sin more and have pleasure in doing unrighteousness.  They want to believe their ‘truth’ over God’s truth.   

Paul warned Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:3-4 ….charge some (give command) that they teach no other doctrine.  Neither give heed to fables (ideas that are not true).

There are ideas (even about God’s Word) that are not true.  They are fables and yet many believe and hold tightly to them because they appeal to the appetite of the fleshly desires.  Paul instructed Timothy to give commandment that they are not to teach any other doctrine than what Paul and Timothy taught them nor to give ear to ideas that are not Biblically accurate or true.

What man wants to believe or not believe concerning salvation, sin, or what’s in the Bible will never supersede the truth of God’s Word.

Proverbs 23:23 instructs – Buy the Truth and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Buy the Truth = Truth will cost you something! 

It will cost you, requiring you to give up your own wants, desires, and
           will of the flesh.

Don’t sell it!  Don’t trade off truth to fulfill what this flesh wants for in
           the end it will cost you more than you may have bargained for = your
           soul!

Be open to listen and receive godly wisdom and instruction = it will
           cost you your time as you spend more time in prayer, Bible reading,
           and listening to the preached Word.  

Seek to obtain understanding of what God’s Word truly says, not what
           man desires it to say.

The Bible teaches in many Scriptures that we are to walk before God in Truth – 1 Kings 2:4, 2 Kings 20:3, Psalms 26:3, Ps 86:11, Is 38:3

We are to serve God in Truth = Joshua 24:14 and 1 Sam 12:24

For we will be judged according to God’s righteousness and with His truth = Ps 96:13

David wisely prayed, “Lead me in Thy Truth, and teach me…” Psalms 25:5

Because Truth is a shield and buckler = Ps 91:4

A shield and buckler are used for protection. The shield is used to defend yourself. It is large and protects most of the body. The buckler is smaller, often worn on the forearm, and is used for advancement purposes against the enemy.  

Truth will not only protect you but will also help to fight against the tactics of the enemy.  The buckler of truth can be used to gain advantage over the devil just as Jesus used Scripture to fight back against the devil when he came to tempt Him, twisting the Scriptures.

The devil tried to cause Jesus to question what the Scriptures truly said. (Mt 4:1-11)  It was his first tactic against Adam and Eve to make them fall (Gen 3) and he is still using that same tactic today…. “Hath God really said….?” “Does God’s Word really say (that)?”  “God’s Word doesn’t really mean (that).”  This is why it is important to KNOW what God’s Word truly says. 

We are to CHOOSE the way of Truth = Ps 119:30

Truth is what will endure = Ps 100:5

God is near to those who call upon Him in Truth = Ps 145:18

The righteous which keepeth the Truth may enter in = Is 26:2

The Preacher seeks for the Truth (Ecc 12:10) so that he may deliver what is right before God to the hearers and teach them the way of Truth.

Because… There is a way which seemeth right (appears to be upright) unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways (the road) of death. (Prov 16:25)

The Hebrew word for ‘seemeth right’ (H3477) means that there is a path people will take that appears to be the straight way; it appears to be upright. BUT…it is really the path/the road that leads to death (H4194 - meaning ruin/hades).

What may appear to be the right way to live and do things in the eyes of many is not the right way in the eyes of God. It is really the broad path that leads to destruction. (Mt 7:13)

That’s why we are instructed to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES for in them ye THINK ye have eternal life. (John 5:39)  Many THINK they have eternal life yet they do not LIVE for Jesus.  They believe on Jesus but they do not follow Him or live godly. 

They are following a way that seems right unto a man – “just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and though shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31) – because it’s the easy way that appeals to the flesh.  Just believe and be saved, nothing more required of a person….according to the way that seems right unto man…but when you read the entire Bible cover to cover, you see that there is more that God requires of each of us.

They are believing half of the truth without continuing to read further in Acts 16 to see that in the very next verse, the jailer and his household went on to be Baptized after they believed. (vs 32) Believing is only the first step, then we must obey Jesus’ instructions to be Born Again of water and of Spirit. (John 3)

These are Biblical truths many do not want to believe because it requires something more of them.  It requires change.  It requires denying the flesh.  It requires turning away from sins that they love doing.  

There are Biblical truths about holiness inside and out that many do not want to believe.

They take a portion of Scripture from 1 Samuel 16:7 and claim, “God only looks at the heart!” Usually that is not said with a humble meek spirit.  It’s usually spouted with a haughty and rebellious attitude and tone. Yet, many use this small portion of a Scripture to make allowance for immodest clothing and exposing of the flesh.  

God was not saying in this passage that He does not care what a person wears or how they dress. He was addressing that man will choose and place someone in a position based on their stature, their looks, and their charming demeanor.  God sees beyond that to what is truly in the heart.  

The truth as to whether or not God cares about our attire can be seen in God’s Word beginning in Genesis. God does care about what we wear or He wouldn’t have changed Adam and Eve’s fig leaf apron to a modest coat for both of them.  If God didn’t care about what we wear, He would not have given instructions on clothing for the ministry, modest apparel, or instructed that a woman is not to wear anything that pertains to a man nor is a man to put on a woman’s garment.  If God didn’t care, then why would He warn that it’s an abomination? (Dt 22:5)

1 Sam 16:7 has been twisted to appease the conscious and make allowance for the flesh. It is a way that seems right unto man but leads to spiritual death.

David asked this question of God…

Lord, who shall abide in Thy Tabernacle?
Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?

He knew the answer when he wrote….

He that walketh uprightly (without sin)
and worketh righteousness (does what’s right)
and speaketh the truth in his heart (does not lie)
He that backbiteth not with his tongue
(doesn’t slander anyone or be a tale-bearer against them)
nor doeth evil to his neighbor,
(does no wrong to another – Romans 13:8-10)
Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor,
(Reproach = stripping; does not strip reputation from another through slander and gossip – does not spread, propagate, or believe it)
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned;
but he honoureth them that fear the Lord.
(Does not justify or make excuses for those who do wrong while casting blame on the victim – rather they are respected for doing right before God)
He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.
(going to keep his word and not change it no matter how much it hurts)
He that putteth not out his money to usury,
(will not charge another person interest when loaning money
placing that person further in debt)
nor taketh reward against the innocent.
He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 15

Those who do these things will abide in God’s Tabernacle and dwell in His holy hill.  Those who do not, will not.

If we only need to believe and that’s all it takes to be saved, then the 10 Commandments would be invalid as well as the instructions throughout the Old and New Testaments.

If we only need to believe and that’s all it takes to be saved, then Paul’s warning that those who do the following will not enter the Kingdom of God would not be necessary…. 

Know ye not that THE UNRIGHTEOUS (wrongdoers)
SHALL NOT INHERIT the Kingdom of God?
BE NOT DECEIVED:
Neither fornicators (sexually immoral)
Nor idolaters
(immorality can be an idol – notice it is mentioned between the two)
Nor adulterers
(sexual relations with someone other than a person’s spouse)
Nor effeminate
Nor abusers of themselves with mankind
(effeminate and abusers are referencing homosexual relations)
(**Notice the first 5 things refer to sexual immorality**)
Nor thieves (those who steal)
Nor covetous (greed/envy)
Nor drunkards (alcohol consumption)
Nor revilers
(one who reproaches another angrily, rebuking with ill temper)
Nor extortioners
(those who cheat, swindle, or threaten to obtain money from others)
(No one who does any of these things)
Shall inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Cor 6:9-10

These six things doth the LORD hate:
Yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:
A proud look
A lying tongue
And hands that shed innocent blood
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations
Feet that be swift running to mischief
A false witness that speaketh lies
And he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:16-19

We cannot do these things yet expect to enter heaven. 

The last seven mentioned are abominations to God = God never changes how He looks at those who do those things (without repenting and changing).

Jesus prayed this prayer concerning His Disciples…”Sanctify (to make holy) them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth.” (Jn 17:17)

God’s Word is what is truth. We need to seek for His truth, learn His truth, follow His truth, and love His truth. 

There are so many more Biblical truths that many do not want to hear taught or preached because it goes against the will of the flesh yet we need to have a love for truth and be open to hearing whether we like what is said or not because it can make the difference between whether we hear, “Well done, enter in!” or “Depart from Me, I know you not you worker of iniquity!”

 We need to get a love for the truth - Our eternity depends on it.