Opinions do not matter, facts do. Truth is not relative unless your definition of truth is that of Lenin and Stalin which is, “Truth is that which moves our agenda forward.”
As apprentices of Christ we are not, or should not be interested neither in our or anyone else’s opinion. We should work hard at determining what is God’s truth. This is not a politically correct position. Our culture demands tolerance, coexistence of world views that are completely at odds. That demand is irrational and destructive. That demand denies that there is truth.
This is critically important when it comes to the pursuit of God. By His grace – and Peter says by His divine power (2 Peter 1:3 – 4) – He has left us with His Word. It matters what the Bible says, not what we want it to say or wish it did. There is ample, sufficient data the text for us to find the truth and the promise of the Holy Spirit’s guidance (John 16:13). We court significant in many cases fatal error when we try to speak where the Lord has not; when we try to close what we perceive as holes in what the Lord has revealed to us. It is the best – no the only course to stay as close to what the Word says for when we do not, we tend to develop constructs that elevate man and not God.
This is critically important when it comes to the pursuit of God. By His grace – and Peter says by His divine power (2 Peter 1:3 – 4) – He has left us with His Word. It matters what the Bible says, not what we want it to say or wish it did. There is ample, sufficient data the text for us to find the truth and the promise of the Holy Spirit’s guidance (John 16:13). We court significant in many cases fatal error when we try to speak where the Lord has not; when we try to close what we perceive as holes in what the Lord has revealed to us. It is the best – no the only course to stay as close to what the Word says for when we do not, we tend to develop constructs that elevate man and not God.
Truth is the only solid foundation for life, and leading into eternity. For example, Matthew 7:24-27 (NASB)
ReplyDelete24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock."
"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall."
There are lots of storms in life, but the big one is at the end. What is philosophy is adequate for death?
Of course one sticky point in this discussion, in addition to the reality that I think most of the time my way is really better than God's, is that this position requires (gasp) faith. In the last analysis, all of us choose our way based on faith, in God, ourselves or some other "philosophy." The choice is, who am I going to believe has the Truth to build my life on? There are only two choices.
And we know that Jesus had the audacity to claim that HE was Truth (John 14:6) which by extension would necessarily mean all that He said was truth.
That takes faith to accept.
And of course, long before Jesus lived, God Himself made clear that His Word was necessary for life. Deut.4:5-9 and 6:1-7 are a couple of my favorite passages.
Challenging words, Mike. The pursuit of and obedience to Truth is worth a life, and a lifetime. I'm thankful for my personal heritage and many, many Godly men and women who have spurred me on in the pursuit. I've still got a long way to go....
Thanks. I too have a bit further to go on this journey...
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