“…they exchanged the truth for a lie; 2:16 they shall be judged by the hidden things in their hearts” (Romans 1:25).
Why is it that to some believers it feels like God is actually present and real, and to others He feels far, distant and maybe even non-existent at times?
My experience and the testimony of the Bible seem to indicate that honesty and truth make the difference.
I believe why so many people in the world do not have the Lord and why so many Christians do not experience His presence is that they do not love the Truth. Jesus is the Truth, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and the Father is the God of Truth, so the Truth is where the contact is made between Him and us. Being honest is the biggest thing we can contribute to our relationship with God.
According to a study in 1991, 67% of the US population did not believe in absolute truth. In 1994 that figure rose to 75%. In 1991, 52% of Evangelical Christians did not believe in absolute truth. In 1994 that figure rose to 62%.
Two aspects of truth:
A. Jesus is the Truth. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.” He said, My Word is Truth. The Word is truth, Jesus is the Word (John 1:1).
B. There is a lower form of truth. It is being real about ourselves. Hypocrisy is lying or it is bearing false witness, one of the Ten Commandments.
Truth is important; much more than we think!
A person becomes blinded to reality when they reject the truth. It is the law of sowing and reaping, sow a lie, reap a lie - THIS IS DANGEROUS!
II Thessalonians 2:10-12 says the people did not love the truth, therefore God gave them over to their own lies.
Romans 1:25 says they did not love the truth - therefore God gave them over to their own lies.
John 3:19-21 explains how Jesus came with the solution to sin, but that the people love the lie so much, they could not get saved.
The Truth is a Law
What is a law? It is something that works every time. Truth will bring God on the scene and defeat Satan every time.
Psalm 119:142 says, “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is the truth.” If God’s law or Word is true, then His truth must be a law.
Malachi 2:6 mentions the law of truth. It states, “The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and turned away many from iniquity.”
God’s Word is truth according to John 17:17 which says, “Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth.”
Hebrews 1:3 states that truth [the Word] keeps the universe going. It says, “…He (Jesus) is the perfect imprint and very image of God’s nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.”
Truth will…
• Bring you into God’s presence. Psalm 15:1-3 says, “who shall dwell in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; he does not backbite with his tongue, nor do evil to his neighbor, nor take up a reproach against his neighbor.”
• Put your sins on the Cross. I John 1:9- 9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• Defeat Satan. Revelation 21:8 says, “But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Put God to work for you. Psalm 85:11 says, “Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from Heaven.”
• Get you into the spiritual world. God is light, truth is light. The spiritual world is moving faster than light, which is why you cannot see it (1 John chapter 1).
Most people cannot appreciate the value of being honest.
God will never bless dishonesty!
In order to appreciate truth and honesty, one must peer into the invisible world to see how things really operate.
Truth brings God on the scene; deception brings Satan on the scene!
ISOB Discipleship Training Manual. Larry Chkoreff (WALK) ( Truth- The Lie )
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