Line Upon Line

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)

In his book, Winning the Invisible War, E. M. Bounds wrote:

"The power of the devil extends to the mind. He can influence the mind, insinuate thoughts, suggest purposes, and excite the imagination. Satan can inflame the passions, stir the appetites, awaken old habits, and fan dead flames or light new ones. He deceived the natural innocence of Eve. He entered into Judas, possessed him fully, and made his half-formed treason complete.

"In Corinthians, the devil is called the god of this world. 'The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.' The devil uses this world as a veil to shut out the truth of God and the light of His glorious gospel. He closes the eyes of faith to all the discoveries in the unseen and eternal. 

"The antagonism between the children of the world who are possessed by Satan and the children of God who are possessed by God is set forth by John. 'Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error' (1 John 4:4-6). Who is in us? God. Who is in the children of the world? The devil.

"Our faith, our hope, and our final triumph are in the truth of the Word of God. 'Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.'"  E. M. Bounds (1835-1913) Winning the Invisible War, Whitaker House, 1984, pp. 100,101)

"Well, Shut My Mouth!"

As I listened to a radio talk show the other day, I was dumbfounded.

Now, is dumbfounded the word I want?

Don't touch that mouse--I'll be right back. I want to look up the definition of dumbfounded.

Okay, I'm back.

Yup, I was dumbfounded: "as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise."

The conversation between the radio host and the caller centered on the current U.S. presidential campaign. The exchange of thoughts on the subject was interesting. But here's the thing that dumbfounded me--when the host suggested that the caller's choice for the office of president had not been truthful in some statements he'd made, the caller said that didn't bother him. To make sure he understood the caller's thoughts, the host pressed him further and asked, "If you found out that your candidate lied about this, you'd vote for him anyway?" The caller said, Yes, that wouldn't matter."

Dumbfounded! I was then, I am now.

I guess to some (probably many), truth and truthfulness don't really matter. But seeking, knowing, and following after the truth means everything to me.

Listen again to what E. M. Bounds said: "The devil uses this world as a veil to shut out the truth of God...," and, "Our faith, our hope, and our final triumph are in the truth of the Word of God." [emphasis mine]

Truth Matters

You see, truth matters--it's what the Kingdom of God is established upon--and it's the foundation of every successful Christian life. It's the standard by which we know right and wrong, good and evil.

Praying to His heavenly Father, Jesus said, "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:14-17 NKJV).

God's Word is truth--and the truth of God's Word brings light to the darkness. The psalmist said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105 NKJV).

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "But the people's minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away" (2 Cor. 3:14-16 NLT, emphasis mine).

A person can't see or know the truth until they turn their heart to Jesus. Jesus--the One called the Word of God--is the Truth! (See John 14:6)

The world around us is shrouded in a thick fog of lies, half-truths, opinions, ideas, philosophies, hypotheses, and theories. But we who have received Christ, have received the light of the knowledge of glory of God--the Truth--that gives us insight into the spiritual realm, and illuminates the path of life.

I encourage you to seek the truth, love the truth, hear the truth, hold fast to the truth, and walk in the truth--because only the truth will set you free!

think on these things...

Ephesians 4:17-21 (NLT)
With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed. But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus.

John 8:30-32 (NKJV)
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.''

Why don’t modern men try using the Bible as a guide for life? They have tried everything else. Alfred Armand Montapert

It makes all the difference in the world whether you put the truth in the first place or the second place. Anonymous