Banking on the Truth
2 Timothy 3:14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.
Deception Abounds!
As we get closer and closer to the Lord’s return, it is harder and harder to make sure that what we believe is true. I can find news reports that support whatever I want to believe. Many of them are not news reports at all but commentary on the news. When it comes to Bible interpretation, I can find Bible teachers that will teach almost anything that I want to hear without regard to the full context of the chapter or the particular book or of the Bible. When it comes to diet and medical issues, I can find all kinds of contradictory experts. So what can a person believe? I believe that the only thing that we can depend upon for sure is the written Word of God. I believe that the average person can understand the Bible’s basic truths. The problem is that the Bible does not always tell us what we want to hear so we don’t always find it easy to believe.
Some Truths that I Believe
I believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that in the original manuscripts, every word was inspired.
I believe that Christ is the Son of God.
I believe that Christ is sinless
I believe that Christ was raised from the dead and that He is coming again.
I believe that trusting Christ is the only way to be right with God.
I believe in heaven and in eternal conscious punishment. Thus, I believe in existence after death.
I believe that God sent His Son so all could be spared from eternal conscious punishment.
I believe that most people who claim to be Christians have never really trusted in Christ to save them.
How can We be Sure?
Timothy believed what he believed because he had been taught by his mother and his grandmother and by Paul. I believe what I believe because I have promises from the Holy Scripture to assure me. I have been taught by many. Some of what I have been taught does not stand the test of Scripture. Much has met that test and those are the truths that I am assured of and that I teach.
Most of these truths can be found in a couple of simple Scriptures. John 3:16, 17, 18 and 36 are good places to start. John 14:6 also comes to mind along with Luke 10:27. Basically I understand that God wants us to love Him and to love our neighbor. He says we don’t love Him when we are born the first time. Instead we love self. But when we understand our sinnership and trust Christ, things change. Then the love of God for us becomes real. Our love for others also becomes real and is one of the ways that we show our love for the living and true God who loves us.
By faith I am sure of a few basic things. I am sure that the Lord did not sin nor lie. 1 Peter 2:22 says, “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth,” Because Christ is the Truth and does not and cannot lie, I am sure that Christ died for me and that one day I will be in heaven. This is something that we all need to be assured of.
Banking on the Truth
As we all celebrate in some fashion the birth of Christ at this time of the year, we need to make sure that we are not just celebrating a supposed myth or the Santa Claus lie. We need to remember that His name was called Jesus because He would save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). That is truth straight from our heavenly bank and trust company. I am banking on that Truth and I hope you are as well.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of December 22, 2013 (Still true today)
Meditation for the week of December 20, 2020