“truth”

No one likes to be lied to. When we have a conversation with anyone we desire and expect to be told the true facts about any subject that is being considered. Since that is what we desire how do you think God will feel and judge those who lie to Him? There is little doubt in my mind that a lie stirs up the anger and wrath of God. Therefore, I consider the subject of this article to be of utmost importance. I hope that you will use the same consideration as you read these printed words.

First, let us establish that Jehovah God is a god of truth: (Deut. 32:4) “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”(Isa. 65:16) “That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.” It is very important that we establish this fact; especially since we detest being lied to by anyone! Who would be willing to serve God if He was capable of lying? We can have confidence and hope of eternal life because we have faith in our God who cannot lie: (Titus 1:2) “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Friends, we can have confidence in eternal life because God is righteous and truthful in His judgments: (Rev.16:7) “And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” This being the case I cannot imagine that God would expect or accept anything less of His children, which leads to my next point.

We begin this point by looking to God’s own Son, Jesus Christ: (John 14:6) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Here Jesus declares that He is “the truth” but can this be proven? Jesus also made this statement: (John 7:18) “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.” Did Jesus speak on his own or did He speak the words of God? Of course we know that Jesus came to this earth because of God’s love: (John 3:16)“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” However, Jesus also gave testimony of another reason for His coming to this earth: (John 18:37) “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” Yes, we can rely on the words spoken by Jesus because He came to this earth to “bear witness unto the truth.”

What about the word that is spoken on God’s behalf today? Does God expect anything less of us today than He expected of Jesus Christ? The apostle Paul was one of God’s great preachers and continued in speaking the truth as did Jesus Christ: (2 Cor. 7:14) “For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.” Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he had spoken “all things to you in truth.” Where did Paul get the “truth” from? Who was it that he learned the “truth” from? He started preaching as soon as he was converted so how did he know the difference between the truth and a lie? Answer, inspiration! He declared he spoke the “truth and lie not”: (1 Tim. 2:7 “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” Do you remember what Jesus promised His apostles? (John 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. As Paul stated he was ordained an apostle, therefore, he was guided by the Holy Spirit “into all truth”

Teachers, preachers or anyone who speaks on God’s behalf today I exhort you to speak the “truth!” We can do this by keeping within what is written in God’s Word, the Bible. Let us ever be mindful that this is what God expects of us!

-Bud