How do you handle the truth? It is difficult to deal with, because the reality is that truth hurts. We are often not willing to accept it. Truth often deals with our attitude and our behavior, and often we run from truth.
If you took the time to write down the things of truth in your life (and if you are honest about it), you would not like what you would see. God wants us to acknowledge who we are as sinners. We try to hide from the truth and say we are good, or we will even blame our issues on others. No matter how we may feel, God speaks to us in the truth through His Word.
Romans 3:3-4
3 What then? If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness? 4 Absolutely not! God must be true, even if everyone is a liar, as it is written:
That You may be justified in Your words
and triumph when You judge.
John 8:44-45
44 You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
Most people who rather believe the lie instead of truth to avoid acknowledging it. The church is often confused, in much the same way, as to what is truth and what to believe. Either we stand on the truth and God’s Word or we choose to believe what Satan has to say, and he is a liar.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, 10 and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved.
Satan will be setting up many for deception and to believe in his lies, and he will cause many to fall to the side if not perish altogether. He is successful in the lives of those that choose not to love and accept the truth.
When you begin to believe the truth, it will greatly affect your behavior. This is evident to everyone around you. They will see a person who follows truth living a life of purity. There will be a life of productivity and improvement. In contrast, those who do not follow truth, trust in His Word and believe in His Word will often manifest behavior that shows an inconsistent life. God promises to train you in every area of life if you trust in Him.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 4:5
16 All Scripture is inspired by God[a] and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
5 But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
A person who believes in Jesus Christ must make sure that he or she reads God’s Word in order to begin the process of believing it, and acknowledging that it is true. We read it, we wrestle with it, and then we believe it; therefore, God begins to speak to us and give us the ability to apply it and share it with others. Note the progression of the believer who earnestly seeks The Lord.
2 Corinthians 4:13
And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak.
1 Timothy 3:15
But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Failure to accept truth does not mean that the truth is wrong. Many of us need to set the example before others and uphold His truth when dealing with others who refuse to acknowledge it. A person’s behavior will not change unless they hear the truth and accept it.
Often we get caught up in things such as misbelief and misbehavior, and even superstition. We can believe erroneously in old wives’ tales and things that take our focus off of God through Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 4:7
But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness,
1 Corinthians 3:18
No one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise.
Galatians 1:6-7
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the good news about the Messiah.
Matthew 19:16-22
16 Just then someone came up and asked Him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” He said to him. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he asked Him. Jesus answered:
Do not murder;
do not commit adultery;
do not steal;
do not bear false witness;
19 honor your father and your mother;
and love your neighbor as yourself.
20 “I have kept all these,” the young man told Him. “What do I still lack?”
21 “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
22 When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
Note that Jesus answered the man’s question, but he did not like Jesus’ answer. As a result, he was unhappy because he chose not to follow Jesus’ advice. This is exactly what happens when we fail to be obedient to God’s Word and when we lack faith.
Mark 6:4-6a
4 Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5 So He was not able to do any miracles[a] there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He was amazed at their unbelief.
The only thing that can overcome a lack of faith or one who believes in lies is to teach the truth.
Hebrews 11:6
Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
Romans 10:17
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
There are many in our midst that are all of one mind that will welcome those who are in unbelief. They are malicious and spiteful, and in the case of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they happened to be the religious leaders of the time.
Matthew 3:7-8
7 When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to the place of his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.
Just because you choose to make an alliance with others who are unbelievers does not mean you are in a good place or that you can rationalize your position. God challenges us not to use our own reasoning or way of understanding–He wants you to listen to Him and to reason with Him. It will work with each one of us who seeks His Word and His understanding, and He will give us correction and direction.
In the 19th Century, it was the free thinkers that came up with evolution and the development of life forms–which means no creator and; therefore, no God. In the 20th Century, the move was towards modernism–modern practices because “everyone was doing it” and that is what made it right. In the 21st Century, the movement has evolved to hatred of God’s Word, where man knows more than God and the desire to move away from truth. Today, there is a demand for a new doctrine (teaching) that is not according to Scripture; as a result, society dictates to the Christian that they will need to abandon God’s truth in order to adapt and survive in today’s culture. We are being challenged daily to follow truth and to look to God for guidance and answers.
Acts 5:29
But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
Galatians 1:10
For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.
Hebrews 13:20-21
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Romans 3:4
Absolutely not! God must be true, even if everyone is a liar, as it is written:
That You may be justified in Your words
and triumph when You judge.
Lord, we pray for those who may doubt you that you will release them from their unbelief, for your Word is true and it will provide guidance and training in everything that they will do. Help us to be obedient to You and to Your Word and to seek you with a desire to learn and grow in You. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 