Hello , Do you know what truth is?
"Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth," Psalm 31:5, NKJV.
The absolute truth is expressed by God.
2 Timothy 3:16 has this: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right,” NLT. Note that God breathes out the truth - that’s the word inspired in the verse. Here’s John 17:17, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”
The only objective, absolute truth is an expression of God, the Father. And, since Jesus is the exact image of God, the Father, Jesus’ words are truth, John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me,” What Jesus said is the express message of God.
Jesus explains this in John 7:16-17, saying, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.” Jesus’ words are God’s words. Also, Scripture has it that we are to let the word of Christ live within us. Here’s Colossians 3:16, “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”
Why is the truth so important?
If Jesus said He spoke the word of God, then the only way to get to heaven is to hear God’s truth, as expressed in the Bible. Here’s John 6:45-47, “As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.). “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.”
Keywords?
“taught,” - truth revealed by voice or writing.
“listens,” - accepting a message, in this case, the message from God.
“learns” - God’s words kept within the self.
“Truth,” - only God’s truth.
“Eternal life,” - to live forever with God in heaven.
I want you to see the connection between “truth,” “anyone believing,” “eternal life.” Everyone needs this truth, each person needs to believe the truth, and anyone doing so receives eternal life when they obey the truth (more this in a moment).
Anyone going to heaven must love and search for truth
(1) Because your very existence, your life, your soul, depends on it. Look at an Old Testament example from Amos 2:4 where the Hebrews disregarded God's word, "This is what the LORD says: "The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They have rejected the instruction of the LORD, refusing to obey his decrees. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors."
(2) God has spoken to all people; therefore, we
must
listen to His word. Anyone failing to do so receives a negative vote at the judgment. Judgment is a reality, the New Testament speaks of judgment, and if God said of judgment, you can be assured of its truth. Jesus will be the judge, Acts 17:31, "For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead." Listening to God's word is the only way to save yourself!
(3) We love the truth. Everyone should love it. Here's 2 Thessalonians 2:10, "He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they
refuse to love and accept the truth
[my emphasis] that would save them." We should love and accept God's word, the absolute truth, for God's truth is ultimately how we get to heaven.
Finally, truth must be obeyed. If God gives the word, then we are obligated to do what He says. Here's 1 Peter 1:22, "You were cleansed from your sins when you
obeyed the truth,
[my emphasis] so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart." Lifelong attachment to the truth is the way to go. 2 Peter 1:12, "Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught."
The truth is super important. No one gets to heaven without it. Develop and grow a sincere love for truth. How? Spend a lot of time with it.
This message is from Garland Van Dyke at Bible Points!Matthews St. church of ChristPO Box 1522, Bay City, TX 774141915 Matthews Street, Bay City, TX 77414(979) 318-2463Contact me at [email protected]www.matthewsstreetchurchofchrist.com facebook.com/matthewsstreetchurchofchristWant your own copy of our devotional in your inbox? biblepoints.org/bible-points(It's twice weekly and we don't bombard you with stuff!)
