Dear Beachside Family and Friends,
There seems to be much confusion concerning the truth these days. Is it "real news" or "fake news?" Politicians and the media claim to speak the truth, but it seems that their definition of truth is whatever supports the outcome they desire. Their proclamations of truth are most often prefaced by denouncing those with whom they do not agree as liars. If they cannot debate the facts with information that supports their position, then they simply label everyone else as liars and use that straw man to maintain that what they say is true. By so doing, they automatically accept that they are right just because they say so. This is not truth: it is self delusion of the highest order.
Those who call themselves Christians should hold themselves to a higher standard. Truth should not be determined by society or the ever changing waves of pop culture and politics. We should not accept the notion that truth is flexible and malleable by our own will and desires. We must stand firm upon the bedrock of scripture, which tells us "..let God be true but every man a liar.." (Romans 3:4) God alone is THE TRUTH, and the sole arbiter of truth and justice. "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent." (Numbers 23:19)
In John 14:5 Jesus said, "I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Every born again believer has the nature of truth residing in them. That does not mean that believers are incapable of telling lies, but it does affirm that by nature we are inclined to tell the truth. The same is not true of unbelievers. They have a different nature, one that is energized and controlled by Satan. Jesus said of those who refused to believe in Him "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44) The apostle John also addressed this. "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22) These scriptures can be summed up this way: believers are by nature inclined to tell the truth, and unbelievers are by nature inclined to lie.
If we understand these simple facts, it will be easier to determine who is telling the truth. When the media and politicians speak, are they speaking from hearts that believe in Jesus and recognize the authority of God in our nation and individual lives? Do their words evidence belief in God and His Word as the ONLY TRUTH? Though believers may lie in a moment of fear of disobedience, their hearts convict them to always speak truth. A politician or media personality who acknowledges the God of the Bible and respects the words of Jesus is more likely to be speaking truth than those who do not.
It is an easy thing for many to call someone else a liar in order to hide the dishonesty of their own political positions. Christians must be wise and thoroughly evaluate the words of politicians and the press to discover the truth. Is the person speaking a born again believer? If not, do they espouse a belief in the God of the Bible and support traditional biblical values? If we are to trust what people say, then we must know if their trust is in the Lord. When deciding between the words of two people who both say they speak the truth on an issue, we should always favor the words of the one who also stands up for the God of the Bible. If we put our trust in God to lead us, we will not be deceived. God has given us our own Truth Detector. Jesus identified Him as the Holy Spirit, Who is Truth and guides us into the Truth. "..when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth"..(John 16:13)
We can expect guidance from God and escape the confusion. Listening to the Holy Spirit and understanding the difference between the heart motivations of believers and unbelievers will enable us to know what is fake and what is real. Knowing the truth is very important. After all, didn't Jesus say "and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free?"
Pastor Ramon
