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The Search for Truth Part II

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Jesus gave an eternal principle to all people when he said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”1

While Jesus was primarily sharing a theological principle, the same principle applies to every area of life—not only to propositional truth (factual truth) but also to personal truth.

Personal truth means that we are to be in touch with our inner truth; that is, being aware of and honest about our true feelings and motives. As God’s Word says, “Behold, you [God] desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part you will make me know wisdom.”2

In reality, the more dishonest we are (repressed and in denial) about our inner truth, the more we will distort all truth—including God’s truth—to make it match our distorted perception of reality. The opposite is also true, the more honest we are with our inner truth the clearer we will see all truth.

In other words, we see things not the way they are but the way we are. For example, if I am a negative person, I will see things in a negative light—and be critical about them. If I am a supersensitive person, I will read into what others say or do and overreact—not so much on the basis of what they have said or done, but on the basis of who and what I am. On the other hand, as Thomas Dreier put it, “The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you. The world is what you are.”

It is not without good reason that God’s Word teaches: “Don’t just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty and jealousy … put away all evil, deception, envy, and fraud. Long to grow up into the fullness of your salvation.”3

If we want to discover truth it starts with our being truthful and honest with ourselves. As long as there is any area in our life where we haven’t found freedom, we can be sure that there is some truth we are not seeing or are in denial about. As Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”1

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to see and get reconnected to any and every area in my life where I might be in denial, so I can bring these issues into the light so they can be dealt with and resolved. Help me always to be truthful with myself, others and with you so that I will find true freedom and not distort the truth in any way. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

To be certain your life is right with God read, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian—without having to be religious at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. John 8:31-32 (NIV).
2. Psalm 51:6 (NASB).
3. See 1 Peter 2:1-3 (TLB).

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The Search for Truth Part I

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The search for and avoidance of truth is as old as mankind. At the beginning of mankind’s history Satan (the devil) distorted God’s truth by telling a part-truth—one of the most deceptive form of lies. This resulted in mankind’s fall and introduced evil into the world.1 And when Jesus was being tried, Pilate asked, “What is truth?”2

Today, however, in our so-called post-modern secular world, with our political correctness insanity, according to Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman Jr., in their book, 20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists, “Tolerance—not truth—is absolute.”3 This is an extremely dangerous way to live and a foundation of sinking sand upon which to build a society—especially as we keep moving our roots farther and farther away from God, the author and essence of all truth and life.

At the root of much of the evil (including terrorism) in today’s world is the fact that men have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. In speaking about earlier generations God’s Word says, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged … the truth of God for a lie.”4

The end result: “God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”5

The reality is that without access to the truth there is no reality, no freedom, no sense of direction, and no hope of salvation for mankind. No wonder so much of today’s world is floating on a sea of distrust and world-wide turmoil. May we never forget that “blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.”6

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please send a revival of your Spirit and a revival of truth to our land so that as a nation we will turn back to you and know your blessing and security—and let your work begin in me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

To be certain your life is right with God read, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian—without having to be religious at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. See Genesis 3:1-6.
2. John 18:38 (NIV).
3. Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman Jr.,
in their book, 20 Compelling Evidences
That God Exists, p.18.
4. Romans 1:21-23 (NIV).
5. Romans 1:28-32 (NASB).
6. Psalm 33:12 (NIV).

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Learning to Be Upfront

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“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”1

The story is told how a good friend of Henry Ford was very upset because Ford didn’t buy a large life insurance policy from him.

When he asked why he had purchased the policy from a total stranger and not from him, Ford replied, “You never asked me.”

When somebody wants something from me, I want them to ask me directly, and not beat around the bush or try to manipulate me, etc., etc.

According to the words of Jesus, God wants us to do the same—to be direct, detailed, and determined; that is, to ask directly for what we want—”For he who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

I wonder, too, how many of our personal contacts would come to Jesus if only we asked or invited them to—even if it is through giving or sending them an attractive and appropriate piece of gospel literature, or sending and recommending the web address of a suitable gospel web site. For help see the article, “Too Important Not to Share” at: https://learning.actsweb.org/announce.php

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to be direct and up front in all my communications with you—and my closest friends. Help me to ask for and earnestly seek every blessing and good gift that you long to give me. And give me the courage to invite my friends and family to accept you as their personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Jesus, Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV).

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Does God Care?

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“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”1

My twenty-something son came to see me last night. He was terribly distraught over a broken relationship that triggered a lot of pain from the past. As I hugged him, he sobbed his heart out on my shoulder. I am so thankful that he felt safe enough to do this knowing that it is always okay to share his feelings with me no matter what those feelings are.

At times like these I have little to say—I feel my silence and giving him my presence speaks the loudest. I do, however, assure him of my love and acceptance no matter what. Unfortunately—usually more by men than women—when our kids or anyone else is hurting, we want to fix them and wax eloquent with unsolicited advice—advice that is totally divorced from the need of the moment and totally misses the opportunity to be as Jesus to one who is hurting. What people need when they are troubled is a listening ear, an understanding heart, and a shoulder to cry on.

At a time like this the question is often asked, “Where is God when our heart is breaking … does he care? Strange enough, right while my son was sobbing his heart out, the following gospel song was being sung on my computer. It brought tears to my eyes.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:
Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks –
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?2

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you do care when my heart is breaking. Help me to always remember this and sense your comforting presence knowing that when I commit and trust my life to you, you will, in time, turn my mourning into rejoicing and I will become a richer, healthier, more caring person. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT).
2. Frank E. Graeff, 1901.

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I’d Rather Have Jesus

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The Apostle Paul wrote, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”1

On a recent TV program Joy and I saw George Beverly Shea, now 98, being interviewed by Bill Gaither. Close to the beginning of the Billy Graham Crusades back in 1947 (made “famous” in 1949) Mr. Shea has been the BGC team soloist.

Over the years I’ve attended several Graham Crusades in both Australia and the U.S. When in Chicago, I and a few other college students “cheated” a little. We joined the choir so we could get a great seat and observe the evangelist close up. We were reasonably good singers back then anyhow. In every one of these crusades it was always inspiring to hear Bev Shea with his rich baritone voice sing his signature song which was, “I’d Rather Have Jesus”

I didn’t realize it until I heard Shea on the TV interview that he wrote the music of this well-known gospel song—the words of which are a devotion in and of themselves.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
 Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
 I’d rather have Jesus than anything
 This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, grant that I, too, will always be able to sing from my heart, and truly mean it, the words of the song, ‘I’d Rather Have Jesus.’ So help me God. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Philippians 3:8 (NIV).

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Successful Failures

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“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.”1

Chances are you’ve read about all of the following failures who ended up making a great impact in their chosen field of endeavor.

For example, as a young man Abraham Lincoln went to war as a captain and returned as a private. Winston Churchill failed sixth grade. Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was 4-years-old and didn’t read until he was 7. Louis Pasteur was only a mediocre pupil in undergraduate studies and ranked 15th out of 22 students in chemistry.

Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded. F. W. Woolworth was not allowed to wait on customers when he worked in a dry goods store. When Bell telephone was struggling to get started, its owners offered all their rights to Western Union for $100,000. The offer was disdainfully rejected with the pronouncement, “What use could this company make of an electrical toy.”

An expert said of Vince Lombardi: “He possesses minimal football knowledge and lacks motivation.” Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Babe Ruth is famous for his past home-run record, but for decades he also held the record for strikeouts.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Charles Schultz of “Peanuts” fame had every cartoon he submitted rejected by his high school yearbook staff—and Walt Disney wouldn’t hire him. After his first audition, Sidney Poitier was told by the casting director, “Why don’t you stop wasting people’s time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?” When Lucille Ball began studying to be actress in 1927, she was told by the head instructor of the John Murray Anderson Drama School, “Try any other profession.”2

And so the stories go on. For a more detailed and intriguing list visit: http://tinyurl.com/2mf23v

What we learn from these people is that none of these people gained instant success. They suffered rejection, setbacks and failures—but they had a passion for what they wanted to do and stuck with it until they made it. And for those of us who believe God has a purpose for our life we need to do the same, and in the words of Winston Churchill: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never, Never, Never, Never give up.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to discover my God-given life purpose and with your help pursue it with great enthusiasm and never, never, never, never give up. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 24:16 (NKJV).
2. Source: Self-Efficacy Site (website URL no longer working).

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Why Temptation Is Like Ice Cream

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“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”1

Nelson Searcy tells of a study that was conducted about the best tasting ice cream. Members of the control group were blindfolded and given all kinds of vanilla ice cream to taste—quality brand ice cream, gourmet ice cream, homemade ice cream, cheap ice cream and everything in between.

It didn’t matter if it was gourmet, brand name, or homemade ice cream, “The number one determining factor was the percentage of fat in the ice cream. In other words, the more fat that was in the ice cream, the more people liked it.”

As Searcy stated, “Now, isn’t that one of the ironies of life? Why can’t fried chicken, which happens to be my favorite food, be as good for you as an apple? I have never heard a doctor say—‘A fried chicken leg a day will keep the doctor away.’ The reason they say that is because if you had fried chicken every morning for breakfast, it would probably keep the doctor nearby because your cholesterol would shoot up. I guess I’ll have to settle for apples.”2

And who doesn’t like a good fatty ice cream? As a kid we even used to pour pure cream over our ice cream. Yum! Yum! We had no idea how unhealthy that was.

Temptation, too, can have an overpowering attraction and appeal. It can look fabulous and at first taste very inviting—but in the long run its effects are deadly. It reminds me of an extremely beautiful fish that is found on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It’s only very small but its sting is incredibly painful. It needs to be avoided at all cost. Same with sin. Regardless how attractive it appears, its end result is deadly so it needs to be avoided at all costs. As Searcy said, “When we give in to temptation, we always regret it because in the long run we always give up something greater for instant gratification right now.”3

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to remember that while sin’s temptation can be very appealing, it always pays self-destructive dividends. Through your Spirit please give me the strength to resist the lures of the evil one—and the good sense to always depend on you and not try to fight it in my own strength. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV).
2. Nelson Searcy. Source KneEmail.
kneemail-subscribe@welovegod.org.
3. Ibid.

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You’re Not Home Yet

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“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’”1

After serving as a missionary for forty years in Africa, Henry C. Morrison became sick and had to return to America. As the great ocean liner docked in New York Harbor there was a great crowd gathered to welcome home another passenger on that boat. Morrison watched as President Teddy Roosevelt received a grand welcome home party after his African Safari.

Resentment seized Henry Morrsion and he turned to God in anger, “I have come back home after all this time and service to the church and there is no one, not even one person here to welcome me home.”

Then a still small voice came to Morrison and said, “You’re not home yet.”2

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to remember that while I want, with your help, to live life to the fullest and serve you faithfully, that the real rewards await my homecoming when I get home to be with you forever in heaven. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 25:21 (NKJV).
2. Brett Blair, www.Sermons.com

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To Be OK or Not OK?

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King David wrote in the Psalms, “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”1

A very popular pop-psychology book written back in the late sixties was Thomas Harris’ I’m OK- You’re OK. There’s been some suggested other titles such as, “I’m Not OK and You’re No OK but That’s OK,” and not surprising in our culture a more sarcastic one, “I’m OK – You’re an Idiot.”

In Anthony De Mello’s book, Awareness, he says, “People tell you, ‘I think you’re very charming,’ so I feel OK. I get a positive stroke [and that boosts my ego and I feel great for the moment]. I’m going to write a book someday and the title will be, I’m a Donkey, You’re a Donkey. That’s the most liberating, wonderful thing in the world, when you openly admit you’re a donkey. It’s wonderful. When people tell me, ‘You’re wrong.’ I say, ‘What can you expect of a donkey?’”2 (De Mello did use a different word for donkey.)

Now, before you write me off as rattling off in psychobabble, understand what Fr. De Mello was saying; that is, we need to get real and admit what we truly are. This is not a put-down in any way, but only as we see ourselves the same as God sees us are we free to change and become all that God envisioned for us to be. Actually, until we admit what we truly are and accept ourselves as we are—warts and all—we are not free to change and grow because we just hide behind a false mask living in denial–a self-defeating and deadly way to live.

As King David declared in today’s Scripture, how joyful he became when he came out of denial, lived in complete honesty, and confessed his sins and received God’s forgiveness. All his guilt was gone! A great and joyous way to live.

Remember that while God loves me as I am, he loves me too much to leave me as I am. He wants me to grow up into the fullness of my salvation and become all that he envisioned for me to be.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please deliver me from the sin of denial and give me the courage to see myself as you see me–and accept myself as you accept me—so I am free, with your help, to become all that you planned for me to be. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 32:1-5 (NLT).
2. Anthony De Mello, Awareness,
http://www.demello.org/.

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Developing a Healthy Self-Image

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“We love Him [God] because He first loved us.”1

Jim was standing in line at the supermarket checkout when, to his amazement, in charged an angry, aggressive man, with his browbeaten wife in tow, pushing in line ahead of Jim and several other customers. With a forty pound (twenty-kilogram) sack of flour slung over his shoulder. Handing his wife some money, he growled: “Here, you pay for the stuff.” He then proceeded to stomp off with his bag of flour.

Unknown to him, there was a hole in the back of the flour bag. As he stormed out of the supermarket, he left behind a trail of white flour all the way to his car. As Jim walked out of the store, he noticed that the angry man had just discovered his now half-empty sack of flour. Poetic justice one might suggest!

What makes people like this man so obnoxious? Among other possibilities, he undoubtedly has a very poor self-image. The bottom line is that these people don’t feel loved. That’s why his wife was such a wimp, too. People who strongly dislike themselves tend to either become weak, passive and over-compliant and withdraw, or project their self-hatred onto the people around them by being aggressive and bullying. Because they don’t like themselves, they believe others don’t like them either and set themselves up to be rejected.

To overcome a poor self-image and the lack of a healthy sense of self-acceptance doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, commitment, and risk taking.

More often than not insecurity and a poor self-image has its roots in early childhood where one didn’t receive or feel that he received unconditional love. But here’s the challenge: What we didn’t receive in childhood we need to receive now.

And how do we do that? It’s simple but not easy. It’s based on a biblical principle in that, “We love God because He first loved us.” In other words (spiritually speaking) we learned to love God through his love for us in that he knows us fully—warts and all—and loves us regardless … unconditionally.

The same principle applies emotionally. To truly love others we need to be first loved by at least one safe, understanding, and non-judgmental person. To be loved by that person we need to be fully known by him or her—warts and all—and knowing us as we truly are, they love us unconditionally anyhow. It is through their unconditional love for us that we learn (in time) to love and accept ourselves in a healthy way.

Like I said, it is simple but not easy in that it can be very scary because we fear that if we are fully know for whom we really are, we may not be liked and then rejected. However, it is only as we take the risk and step out of our comfort zone that we have any chance of learning how to fully love and accept ourselves in a healthy way. The more we do this the more we will improve our self-image, and consequently, the less we will get our feelings hurt and the easier it will be to deal with whatever setbacks come our way. We may still get our feelings hurt but we won’t be devastated.

For further help in “Developing a Healthy Self-Image” visit: http://tinyurl.com/af5hf

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I thank you that you know me fully as I am and love me unconditionally. Please help me to find a safe person to whom I can become fully known and loved and learn to love and accept myself in the same way that you love and accept me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 John 14:19 (NKJV).

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