"Truth That Transforms"
November 2, 2016
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20
Every survey says our nation is packed with people who have concluded nothing is always true.
They have decided nobody can be believed and nothing can be trusted, at least, not all the time. Perhaps you are among those who feel so lied to that you find yourself doubting ... everything. Well, I can understand where you're coming from.
I understand because many of the things I used to know were true, well, they're not.
Need a few examples? Here's one: when I was young, my brother, sister and I weren't allowed to go swimming for a whole hour after we had eaten. We were told, indeed, every child was told, that if we went swimming 59 minutes after we had eaten, we would get a cramp and we would die. It was guaranteed. Sixty minutes was okay, but 59 minutes was to make a date with death.
Here's another: when I was young, we all knew it was dangerous to handle a toad; handling a toad would give you warts. I once knew that sitting too close to the TV would hurt your eyes. It doesn't. For years I was sure you were supposed to feed a cold and starve a fever, or was it starve a cold and feed a fever? Forget that one. I never could remember which one was right.
You get my point. With truth being so flexible, it's hard to find anything you can believe.
This is why this Daily Devo is for folks who have been tossed to and fro, who have a tough time believing in anything. It is especially for folks who want to have some kind of truth they can hold on to: a truth that can be relied on no matter what else might prove to be unreliable.
So, do you want to know the truth? This is truth: God loved the world -- and by that I mean you -- so much He sent His only Son into the world to do for us all that which we couldn't.
Do you want the truth? The truth is this: on your own you are doomed and damned, but with Jesus Christ, you are washed, you are cleansed, you are forgiven, and you are saved.
Do you want to know the truth? The truth is this: the Holy Spirit this day wishes you to be among God's children and know that your faith is real, it can be trusted, and it always can be believed.
To that end He gives you this truth: Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord. This same Jesus who was unfairly crucified has defeated death and now stands ready to help you, to take your hand and drag you away from the fires of hell. Do you want to know the truth? This is the truth: there is nothing other than a person's own doubt and denial, their own skepticism and cynicism, their own reluctance and reservation that stop God's truth from becoming their saving truth.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, it is a sad thing that some people lump You in with the liars of this world. Please send Your Holy Spirit upon the hearts of all those who have doubted You. Let them see that Your Word is truth and so is the salvation won by our Savior. In His Name we pray. Amen.
