Over the years, I have written and spoken often about how crucial it is to embrace truth when it is revealed. In this world where ignorance and lies have been weaponized against us, the knowledge of truth is vital to life. The truth is as vital to life as food, shelter, and water. In the world today, prevalent acts of selfish pride and unrighteousness have produced so much daily trauma that people have excessively sought pleasure, comfort, and fantasy as a way of coping. The forces of evil have exploited this environment to seduce people into idolatry where their pleasure and comfort has become more important than accepting truth. So, if the acceptance of truth means giving up a source of pleasure or comfort, then truth gets denied. The Lord knew that in these evil times we would need comfort and that is why Christ sent us the Comforter, also known as the Spirit of Truth.
“16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:16-17 KNV)
The Spirit of Truth comes to us and comforts us with the truth of GOD’s love. Reminding us that even though times are dark, a loving and just GOD is still sovereign, and He has confined the evils of today to a season. Trouble will not last always. We don’t need to indulge inordinately in pleasure and comfort when we have the truth of GOD, when we have the perspective of the full story.
Herein is the patience of the saints. Will we endure hardness as good soldiers or will we listen to the accusations against GOD and turn away from the light of truth. Many have now turned away from the truth and become unfruitful. By unfruitful I am referring to failing to yield the fruit of the Spirit that comes from accepting the seed of truth.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8-10 KJV)
It is not enough just to acknowledge Christ as Lord, even the demons know He rules. For people to be transformed, there must be acceptance of truth expressed through repentance and obedience. Repentance is the laying down of life that enables transformation after receiving the truth. Transformation empowers us with the strength to walk in the obedience of Christ.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 16:25 KJV)
So many people remain untransformed because they resist the acknowledgement of death that truth requires. The only life there is is the life that is in Christ. If you are living contrary to His word, then you are yet in the ways of death and in need of salvation. When truth exposes the ways of death in you, it is the mercy of GOD liberating you to choose the life that is in Christ. This is the moment where Christ is saying to you, “If you are going to follow me, you must take up the cross of self-mortification.” You must take off the fig leaves and face the truth that there is only nakedness and shame outside of the covering which is provided through the Lamb of GOD. People have covered themselves with reasonings and ideologies of self-justification which oppose truth. The foolishness of pride resists the shame of becoming naked through dropping the fig leaves but that is the only way to become cleansed and covered with the likeness of Christ.
People confess to being justified by the blood of Jesus, but they reject the life that is in the blood. Truth is in His blood. Obedience is in His blood. Spiritual living is in His blood. If you are covered in the blood of Christ, then truth, obedience, and godliness should be manifesting in your life. You can’t accept the life of Christ for salvation and still hold on to your own life. You must choose one and despise the other. You can’t love both because they are contrary and against the other. I think in the streets they call that “double dealing.” You have to let go of one to obtain the other.
When the truth comes to take more ground for the life of Christ, your response should be the surrender of your life. The Savior is recorded in Matthew chapter 13 explaining how the process of transformation is disrupted. He breaks the causes down into three scenarios.
1) Verse 19 covers truth that falls on the wayside. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.
2) Verse 20-21 covers truth sown into stony hearts. This is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
3) Verse 22 describes the one who receives the truth among thorns. He who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
If you know you are spending more time on social media and being entertained than reading the bible and fellowshipping with believers in the spirit, then repent or the deceiver will keep you from inheriting the life of Christ. Come away from the wayside. Draw nearer to GOD.
If you are attending Christian fellowships and doing service because it makes you feel better about yourself and wins you the approval of men, then you have missed the core of what salvation is about. The truth requires that you surrender your standards for living and seek to please GOD alone. If GOD is not free to set the requirements for what you give up and endure in this life, then He has not truly become your Shepherd. Consequently, when you must follow Him through a really narrow pass you will stumble and fall away. Narrow is the way and straight is the gate that leads to the life of Christ and few there be that find it. The stony heart is a heart that has not been broken by all GOD has endured to redeem us. When you have received the truth of the witness of Christ, you will see giving Him everything as your reasonable sacrifice.
If you are still determined and ambitious about making a name for yourself and fulfilling your ideal of success and living the worldly good life, then you are double minded and you are trying to merge your kingdom with the Kingdom of GOD. To accommodate this feat, you must set boundaries for GOD, and this disrupts your transformation. GOD requires ALL of your heart. You pierce yourself through with sorrows striving for vain glory and riches. You have accepted life among the thorns. Don’t be deceived. The glory and riches of this world will never provide the acceptance and fulfillment your soul truly craves. You must lose your life to find it.
Redeem the time by prioritizing the pursuit of GOD’s Kingdom and His righteousness above all else. Watching for Christ’s return means keeping your lamp filled with oil and staying clothed only with the wedding garments He has provided. Amen.
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