Your Truth (Part 3)

John 17:16-18 “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”

The problem is that unbelief is not based on the truth, but a lie. They do not believe the truth that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth - Genesis 1:1, that the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being – Genesis 2:7. But, there is a day to come where each and every one of us will have to give an account of our thoughts, words, beliefs, decisions, actions and deeds. Reality is that there is a “come to Jesus meeting” for us all one day. Romans 14:10b-12 says, For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of themselves, their lives and their beliefs, to the Lord Christ himself. Judgment Day is Justice Day, when we all stand before Jesus, our Maker (read John1:3 &10). And the price to pay for unbelief and believing something other than the truth is eternal.

Psalm 96:12-13 “Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.”

Talking with my dad on this subject the other morning, he said that many claim to not believe in God because they do not want to stand before Him in their willful disobedience and intentional rejection of Him, their Creator, nor wish to face the consequences of their thoughts and actions here on Earth. And likewise, they do not believe in Hell because they do not want to be thrown into that lake of fire and torment for eternity by that God that they do not want to believe exists, but does. I have to agree. They want rebellion without wrath.

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.”

The truth is that no one is going to get into Heaven on their own merit. None of us are good enough, none of us can earn our way to eternal life, and none of us can buy our way into the kingdom of God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Psalm 119:142 “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth.” The wages (the price tag) of sin is death and a just Judge can not justly excuse a guilty person from paying the penalty for their offense. Psalm 119:151 “You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth.” But there is “good news! God sent His Son Jesus Christ to save us by taking our place and paying the penalty of our individual sin with the sacrifice of his own life. Jesus Christ is the TRUTH and the truth shall set us free from the bondage and price of sin, if we believe in Him, accept the free gift of , repent and cleave to the Lord, our Savior. The person, who told me that my truth was not their truth, also told me that I would have to be willing to leave if I didn’t accept theirs. But we are not told by God to leave the fight for souls. I pray that the light of truth shines through me and you to this lost and dying world seeking His truth. Psalm 119:160 “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” Let's make His truth, our truth and in love tell the world the truth.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
While God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

Battle Hymn of the Republic - 1856 by William Steffe

In Christ, Brian