After twenty years of continual learning through personal study of God’s Word, listening to countless scriptural messages in church services, and four years of biblical studies at Ambassador College, I had to evaluate whether my love for God’s truth had become too familiar and routine?
Time had passed, Christ had not yet returned, the Church was divided, and daily living in a stress-filled environment takes its toll.
What was truth, and why should I love it anyway? A long overdue review of sooncoming world events described in the Bible finally helped me to see the need for re-invigorating my love for the truth. Allow me to move ahead in time to the last days of this age, to Revelation where a religious figure is to do some very impressive things.
“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.....He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived” (Revelation 13:11-15).
The deceit perpetrated by this “beast” or false prophet (as he is also called in other places) is well orchestrated with great signs, including fire from heaven.
Would you and I fall for this?
We shouldn’t be too quick to answer, because Jesus Christ said before His return that false Christs and false prophets would arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24).
If it were possible, even God’s elect could be deceived by these impressive signs and wonders, so that you and I could be swept up into idolatry and all manner of sin.
Why will everyone on earth, except for God’s people who will be set apart as His elect, fall for this very convincing deception?
Consider these words from the apostle Paul: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification (setting apart) by the spirit and belief in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
What makes the elect so different so as to not be fooled by these end time signs and wonders?
What sets God’s people apart from the rest of humanity who will cooperate with this false prophet? The spirit of God to be sure, but through the working of that spirit, a belief in, and deep abiding love for, the truth! Love of the truth sets the people of God apart as His elect.
But after all we have been through as a Church, a question could be asked, “What is truth?” and “What version or packaging of the truth are we supposed to love?” Jesus Christ made it very simple for us while He was pouring out His heart to the Father on the night before His death— “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). What truth sets God’s people apart? God’s Truth! What is truth? God’s Word is Truth! And where can we find the truth that we can love and thereby be set apart or sanctified? In God’s Word as preserved for us in the Bible—the only legitimate record of God’s Word on earth!
Do we love God’s truth?
I had to evaluate myself by asking how much—once a week while attending church services; a few minutes a day; or sporadically throughout the week? Or conversely, is it that I can’t get enough? We have so much available today through the extensive collections of bible resources that help explain scripture. Do we use these bible helps regularly to develop a deep abiding love for the truth of God?
If the answer is, “Not yet,” are we willing to commit to finding a way — to prop open the Bible early in the morning; take a pocket version of God’s Word along on the train or bus to work; listen to scripture on mp3, cassettes or CDs as we drive (but keeping a focus on driving of course!); or schedule good in-depth study on Friday Sabbath evening?
Drink of this Word, daily, it is truth! That love of the truth, as found in God’s Word, will set you and me apart. Then we will be God’s elect, protected from future counterfeits — because we have received a love of the truth!
