Have you ever heard someone say this: “I don’t know what I believe anymore”? The reason is very simply. They have been swayed in their belief about something and no longer can decipher what they once believe concerning it or what they now are confronted with to believe about it. However, it is very important for us to be able to discern between truth and error. Sadly, that is becoming increasingly more difficult in a day when right is considered wrong and wrong is accepted as right. There are many dangerous and well thought out religions and philosophies that are trying to bankrupt the truth before it crosses our path. Those dangers are cloaked under Christian labels and what may appear to be well meant a good deed. They also, if not careful, will be overlooked as a wave of change and allowed to become part of what we believe. Yet, I tell you that there can be no substitute for personal prayer and faithful study of God’s Word. For we cannot expect to know what is false unless we are sure of what is truth. I recall hearing once that in order to train people to spot counterfeit money, real money is used for them to study. Only when they know what real currency looks and feels like, can they detect what is false. While God offers us salvation, we must work out what we believe and do not believe to be truth about it. Philippians 2:12 says, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
One characteristic that predominates all cults and false teaching is their denial of the true nature of Christ and His redemptive work. The apostle Paul agonized over this very issue for the new Christians at Colossi and Laodicea as he prayed on their behalf in their struggle as they worked out what was false and what was truth . He knew that the only way to combat the false teachings that were seeping into the Churches were for them to be sound in what they knew and believed. While there are a number of avenues that are being used to reach us, television has become the most favored and acceptable means in slipping us false teachings right alongside sound truth. Our minds begin to accept those teaching because they are made attractive to us and considering our lifestyles and how we are living, we are able to relate to them on the level where we are. Considering the content of most television today, we are seeing more and more destructive philosophies and false teachings coming in many packages, most of which are quite attractive and very appealing. Yet there is an underlying effort to try and undermined what we believe to be truth. I know that if it were not for the Word of God that is in me, that I have personally place there through personal desire and effort, then I too would be swayed to view what my heart tells me is wrong, as personal preference.
Whether people like it or not, there is always going to be right and wrong and we all have to decide which side we will live on. The appearance of them can be taunted. But only to the eye of the one that does not hold to sound truth, will they be swayed. Deception my friend is nothing more than hiding or distorting the truth and that practice first came on the scene in the Garden of Eden where satan took truth and twisted and turned it so that Eve herself did not realize that she was being beguiled by a liar. John 16:13 say’s “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. If the Spirit of God dwells within you, He will lead you into all truth…but you must be willing to follow Him. Matthew 7:7 tells us this concerning finding and getting answers to our questions; "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”. In the end we will all stand before God without excuse and no one will be able to blame anyone other than themselves for not knowing the truth. John 3:19 says this, “And this is the basis for judgment: The light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil.” Do you want to know the difference between what is truth and what is false? Get that Bible out of the drawer or off the shelf and start reading it. Be consistent in reading it and it will be consistent in guiding you into all truth.
Loving on you today,
Bren
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