The Lord has had me meditating on this scripture recently:
1 John 4:4-7
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."
I've been thinking a lot about how so much in life comes down to our ability to know the truth. This world is so chock full of lies. The world lies to us over and over again. Drugs lie. Alcohol lies. The flesh lies. Quick fixes lie. Sin lies. Inappropriate sex lies. The grass being greener on the other side...lies. Satan lies to us.
Our desire and tendancy to believe lies all began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve first chose to believe Satan's lie over God's truth. God told them not to touch that one tree because it if they did, they would die. Satan told them they would not die, but they would instead become like God and would be able to know the difference between good and evil (Genesis 3).
Adam and Eve chose to believe a liar instead of a Holy God. The consequences of their choice has been playing out ever since. The same problem Adam and Eve had is the same problem people have today: They choose to believe a lie over the truth of God, and in doing so, they are trying to be like God.
People want to judge for themselves what is good and what is evil. That is inherent sin. They choose to believe a lie when it suits their life and desires. Jesus said:
"John 3:19-20
God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."
Read the passage again only think of the word 'truth' for light, and think of the word 'lies' for darkness.
People often don't want to hear the truth because the truth always exposes the lies we've come to believe. When we speak God's truth in love, some people will become angry with US. They may begin to make accusations against us and question our motives. If they are not walking with Christ, As John 4 says, they speak from the viewpoint of the world and they will not listen to us.
Unfortunately, if we are walking with Christ we must expect that there are many people who will not listen to us. People who are not led by the Spirit of God will not listen to those who are....that is what the scripture says.
As Christ followers, we must accept that we will experience some of the same type of persecution that our Lord and Savior experienced on earth (John 15:10). People living with a worldly point of view will often reject us. These people may even accuse us of all kinds of false things at times. They will become angry with us when we speak God's truth in love.
We shouldn't be surprised when these things happen to us. And we definitely shouldn't fear this or shrink back from doing what God has called us to do. We are to be salt and light in the world. We cannot hide our light which means we cannot hide the truth that we know.
People of God will listen to us. And everyday, we will become more and more like Christ in the world.
John 8:31-32
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Listen closely to the voice of truth friends. Realize that the world is chock full of mirages and LIES! Satan is the author of all lies. Jesus IS THE TRUTH! Do not be deceived! Do not choose to be the judge of what is good and what is evil. Let God be God and let Him lead you into all truth through His Word, His Spirit and His people!
LISTEN only to the VOICE OF TRUTH!
And be FREE!!!!
Amen and Amen! :-)