Day Sixty Eight: Seeking God's Truth in the Midst of A Storm
Every day I think that I am going to run out of topics for this blog. Fortunately I haven't yet, but if this goes on any longer I may. Right now it is increasingly difficult to discover the truth. Everyone has their own opinion of what truth is. It makes my head spin. When I look at all the information I receive online, I have to do due diligence to find out if it's true or not. It is so easy to manipulate it and to erase it so you have a completely different story.
I like to rely on paper sources, but unfortunately my own means of getting paper based information has been closed to me for over two months. I didn't realize how much I would miss the library until it closed. Yes, many of the paper resources are online now. That's good, but there are still some that are not online and may never be online. You may not know about these books because they weren't "worthy" of being downloaded or scanned. The words these books contain may be heretical to some, so it was decided to get rid of them entirely. I'm afraid this is currently happening in libraries all across the world. They'll tell you that the book(s) were contaminated when you ask for them specifically. I'm still looking for some local history books that disappeared when a library was renovating early last year. I wouldn't be surprised if many of the old books that were still in the libraries also disappear soon.
I used to go to one library to look at a book that had a very comprehensive list and summary of old businesses. I remember the book vividly, but can't recall the title of it. The library that had the book cleared out their shelves, and that book disappeared. No one seemed to have a clue where it went, or even knew what I was talking about in regards to that book. I do think that the library staff, once they are given the "ok" to open will waste no time getting rid of these old books. Contamination will be their excuse for ridding their shelves. I have seen a rapid push to get everything online, and this current crisis has given libraries the perfect opportunity to push everyone online.
What does this have to do with seeking God's truth? Everything. If you just have one source of information available that is easily manipulated, then you're really not getting the whole truth. More than one source is better. The written word of God allows you to meditate and focus on his precepts. It is also easier to see the written word than words on a computer screen. You might be thinking; "Isn't that what you are doing now?' Yes...but I do prefer the written word.
Psalms 19:7(KJV) tells us that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." What does this mean? It means that the Lord's laws are absolute and are full of truth. When we understand them, we become wise. What are the Lord's laws, you may ask and how do we follow them? The ten commandments are a good place to start to understand what the Lord requires of us. The ten commandments were written for the Israelites, but are truly meant for all of us. We do well if we try to obey them.
God knew, however, that we couldn't do it. Our minds became too crowded with our situations that we failed every time. He understood that we needed someone to bridge the gap, and speak the truth in our ears. In John 1:14 (KJV) we read: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." It was Jesus that brought us the truth in his word and shone the light in our darkness. John 8:32(KJV) says this "and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." It is important to note that it is God's truth, not man's truth that we are talking about here.
When Jesus left to take his place in heaven to be our advocate, he left the Holy Ghost to be our guide. In John 16:13(KJV) the Holy Ghost is referred to as the Spirit of Truth. Here is the scripture: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come." I do find it interesting that if we keep an ear open to hear the whispering of the Holy Ghost, we can better navigate the storm. At this juncture you may be asking how do we know if the messages we're receiving come from God? It is a very good question, but is easily answered.
If the message is not from God, it shall not come to pass. If it is from God, it will. I know that's pretty simplistic and sometimes hard to swallow. Truth does have a way of breaking out. It can't be contained for long. John 17:17(KJV) offers this prayer: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." So where does that leave us? We can choose to believe the Word of God or not. Many are even now mocking those who would tell the truth. You see "the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." I Corinthians 2:14 (KJV). In plain language they just don't want to hear the truth, and outright reject it.
When we're seeking God's truth in the midst of a storm, we do best when we focus on the word of God. Yes, I realize that some have had good experiences listening to Christian music, or inspirational messages. Yet I can't help but think that the most important thing you can do, especially in the midst of a storm, is to read and meditate on God's word. Once you are grounded in the Word, then you can "prove all things; hold fast that which is good." I Thessalonians 5:21(KJV). It really is prudent to literally saturate yourself, so that you can then reach out to others with God's truth. 2 Timothy 2:15(KJV) states it this way: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Did you get that? We definitely need to study his word, so that we can stand firm against the attacks of Satan and his minions. 2 Timothy 3:16(KJV) states that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
You may still be feeling lost right now. Jesus can lead you the way home to God and his heavenly glories.
I like to rely on paper sources, but unfortunately my own means of getting paper based information has been closed to me for over two months. I didn't realize how much I would miss the library until it closed. Yes, many of the paper resources are online now. That's good, but there are still some that are not online and may never be online. You may not know about these books because they weren't "worthy" of being downloaded or scanned. The words these books contain may be heretical to some, so it was decided to get rid of them entirely. I'm afraid this is currently happening in libraries all across the world. They'll tell you that the book(s) were contaminated when you ask for them specifically. I'm still looking for some local history books that disappeared when a library was renovating early last year. I wouldn't be surprised if many of the old books that were still in the libraries also disappear soon.
I used to go to one library to look at a book that had a very comprehensive list and summary of old businesses. I remember the book vividly, but can't recall the title of it. The library that had the book cleared out their shelves, and that book disappeared. No one seemed to have a clue where it went, or even knew what I was talking about in regards to that book. I do think that the library staff, once they are given the "ok" to open will waste no time getting rid of these old books. Contamination will be their excuse for ridding their shelves. I have seen a rapid push to get everything online, and this current crisis has given libraries the perfect opportunity to push everyone online.
What does this have to do with seeking God's truth? Everything. If you just have one source of information available that is easily manipulated, then you're really not getting the whole truth. More than one source is better. The written word of God allows you to meditate and focus on his precepts. It is also easier to see the written word than words on a computer screen. You might be thinking; "Isn't that what you are doing now?' Yes...but I do prefer the written word.
Psalms 19:7(KJV) tells us that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." What does this mean? It means that the Lord's laws are absolute and are full of truth. When we understand them, we become wise. What are the Lord's laws, you may ask and how do we follow them? The ten commandments are a good place to start to understand what the Lord requires of us. The ten commandments were written for the Israelites, but are truly meant for all of us. We do well if we try to obey them.
God knew, however, that we couldn't do it. Our minds became too crowded with our situations that we failed every time. He understood that we needed someone to bridge the gap, and speak the truth in our ears. In John 1:14 (KJV) we read: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." It was Jesus that brought us the truth in his word and shone the light in our darkness. John 8:32(KJV) says this "and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." It is important to note that it is God's truth, not man's truth that we are talking about here.
When Jesus left to take his place in heaven to be our advocate, he left the Holy Ghost to be our guide. In John 16:13(KJV) the Holy Ghost is referred to as the Spirit of Truth. Here is the scripture: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come." I do find it interesting that if we keep an ear open to hear the whispering of the Holy Ghost, we can better navigate the storm. At this juncture you may be asking how do we know if the messages we're receiving come from God? It is a very good question, but is easily answered.
If the message is not from God, it shall not come to pass. If it is from God, it will. I know that's pretty simplistic and sometimes hard to swallow. Truth does have a way of breaking out. It can't be contained for long. John 17:17(KJV) offers this prayer: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." So where does that leave us? We can choose to believe the Word of God or not. Many are even now mocking those who would tell the truth. You see "the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." I Corinthians 2:14 (KJV). In plain language they just don't want to hear the truth, and outright reject it.
When we're seeking God's truth in the midst of a storm, we do best when we focus on the word of God. Yes, I realize that some have had good experiences listening to Christian music, or inspirational messages. Yet I can't help but think that the most important thing you can do, especially in the midst of a storm, is to read and meditate on God's word. Once you are grounded in the Word, then you can "prove all things; hold fast that which is good." I Thessalonians 5:21(KJV). It really is prudent to literally saturate yourself, so that you can then reach out to others with God's truth. 2 Timothy 2:15(KJV) states it this way: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Did you get that? We definitely need to study his word, so that we can stand firm against the attacks of Satan and his minions. 2 Timothy 3:16(KJV) states that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
You may still be feeling lost right now. Jesus can lead you the way home to God and his heavenly glories.
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