| Acts 17: | 21: “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” |
And yet, deep down inside, we all know that not all is right with human society. In every country you'll hear the older generation tell of the ‘good old days’ when life wasn't so stressful and people had more time for each other. To be sure we are better fed, better clothed and have more leisure time; but there is ample evidence to prove that human society is sick to the core and is drifting deeper and deeper into trouble. People are not interested in the Truth. Therefore, Scripture tells us, the Spirit of Truth will be withdrawn from human society and mankind will be handed over to the Antichrist - to believe the big Lie!
| 2 Thessalonians 2: | 7: “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8: And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the 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 who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” |
| Romans 1: | 32: “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” |
This withdrawal of the Holy Spirit has begun and the vacuum left behind is being filled with the Spirit of Deception. However, this Sabbath I want to talk about truth not deception.
| Johm 18: | 38: “...What is truth?” |
Yes, What is truth? According to the dictionary, truth is something that is ‘in accordance with the facts, something genuine, correct and accurate, something that lives up to its claims.’ Do we find Truth in our society? Not much, you will agree. But back to our question: What is Truth?
The answer to this vital question is found in the Scriptures, the Word of the living God.
In a world of error, deception and confusion, it is reassuring to find such positive and true statements. Yahweh's Son Yeshua is the embodiment of truth, the living truth. Yahweh's written Word the Bible is the record of truth. Yahweh's Laws are the standards of truth. These are unequivocal facts. We can rely on them. We can stake our lives on them. They are absolutely in accordance with reality. They are true. They are not only true now, but will be true for all time. They will never become obsolete.
| Proverbs 14: | 34: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” |
In other words, right living - which cannot be guided by anything other than Truth - will lift a nation high in the estimation of Yahweh and will win His approval and blessing. Sin, on the other hand, will produce the opposite result. The more deceptive and unrighteous a nation becomes the lower and lower it will sink into disaster. This spiritual formula works with individuals just as it does with nations. It is an eternal formula which we ignore at our peril.
| John 8: | 32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” |
| John 17: | 17: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18: As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19: And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” |
The Bible says that just before the Saviour returns to earth, (Truth, The Son, The Word & The Law of God) will be rejected in favour of fables, myths, entertaining fiction and outright sin. That time has come. It is here.
| 2 Timothy 4: | 3: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” |
A fable is a story that is not based on fact. A fable is the opposite of truth. It is a legend, a myth handed down through the centuries. Fables are fiction. They are not truth. Strange as it may sound, fiction is becoming extremely popular these days. A visit to any library and Christian bookstore will prove this. How accurate is the Bible when it says:
“they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
People are rejecting the Bible record of the creation. They are rejecting the law of God. Instead they are embracing fables, fiction and the falsehood of Evolution.
| 2 Corinthians 13: | 8: “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” |
| Genesis 18: | 23: “And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24: Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city (Sodom): wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?... 32: And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he (God) said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” |
| Jeremiah 5: | 1:“Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” |
| John 4: | 23: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” |
In other words, correct doctrine must not only be understood, believed and accepted, it must be lived out in the right attitude. For our worship to be acceptable to God, we must (note that word 'must') worship Him in spirit; that is, with repentance, meekness, gratitude and awe. This is the kind of worshipper the Almighty is diligently searching the earth for! Do you have the spirit of truth? If you think you still have a long way to go (and I most certainly have) then here is a short prayer you could pray each day.
A Closing Prayer
| Psalm 25: | 5: “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” |
