Articles
Sticking To His Will
Just a couple of quick thoughts today as we start a new year!
Jesus said, ..."Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
We can learn from this that there is an absolute truth. Many today will say otherwise, that we can't know for certain what the truth really is, and some will say that the truth is different things to different people. Christ indicates here there is an absolute truth, and by saying "the" truth, we see that there is one truth only. We can, therefore, eliminate what is NOT truth.
God owns the truth, and we have no right to change it, nor do we have a right to reject it as He owns us too.
So in a world that is full of confusion about things like marriage, morality, conduct, doctrine and ultimately salvation, we know where the truth about these is found, and it is only in God's word.
While most of our world would disagree, the fact is that God's plan does count. His rules determine whether or not our lives, our conduct, our worship is acceptable to Him or not. We are not permitted to create our own plan for living, and if we do, we have rejected both God and His plan.
Assuming we are in search of salvation, 2 Peter 1:3 says "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him...". Rejecting what has been given by Him or even altering it to fit our lifestyle would render us unable to live the godly life He has set forth. Unless we want to throw it all away, we need to understand we live under His plan, not ours.
We get so caught up in wanting to determine our own destiny, wanting to govern ourselves, and as far as making our own secular laws, it's good that we control the governance of our society. But God says "NO" when it comes to determining our own path to Him. He tells us our human wisdom is insufficient, we will never get to the real truth (Prov 14:12, 16:25). For us, guidance must come from God and nowhere else.
Man(kind) has legalized many things that we had no right to under God's plan. Yes, we may have made it "legal", but on judgment day we won't be standing before the Supreme Court of the land. Being "legal" won't be an argument to excuse us. Our arguments won't hold any weight. God's law is over us all, His divine law, no matter what state or country we live in.
In the middle of Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples who "people" said He was. They replied with various answers regarding who others claimed He was. He then asked, “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter, usually the first to answer, said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It does matter who we follow. Christ is the anointed one, the one with all the power, and what He has spoken to us is both His will and the will of the Father, God.
So what happens if we ignore Him, or alter His will, failing to recognize His supremacy and authority? "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24). "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)
Is there an absolute truth? Yes, one we must follow completely, without bending it to fit our desires if we want salvation, because scripture tells us regarding salvation "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) And that name is Jesus, the one who tells us His words are the truth that should govern our lives.
