The Challenge of Truth
Throughout the Bible, we see many examples of individuals who were confronted with Truth.
This Truth demanded some type of reaction from everyone people will do the following:
• ignore it,
• run from it
• obey it, or
• disobey it
Down through time, people have always been faced with the challenges of Truth. Although culture, society, as well as technology have all changed so very much throughout history, human nature has always remained the same.
The Bible is full of accounts of people that encountered Truth and their various reactions to this truth. Now let’s begin to look into the Scriptures to learn about the challenges that Truth brought.
The first challenge of Truth that we read about is in Genesis 2:17. Adam and Eve were able to eat of every tree except for one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
When challenged with this great Truth, what was their choice? They chose to disobey. This had dire consequences, spiritual death and expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
In Genesis 6:13-14, God challenged Noah with another great Truth. Noah chose to believe, to obey, and to act. Noah had to step outside his comfort zone and endure much ridicule.
Despite all of this, He did build the ark according to God’s specifications. Because of Noah’s obedience, He and his family were saved from the flood.
In Genesis 12:1-4, we read about the calling of Abraham and his response to the challenge of Truth. Notice what God was asking Abraham to do: to leave his home, to leave his family, to leave everything that was familiar to him and go to an unfamiliar land.
He did not even know for sure where he was going. When challenged with this, Abraham chose to obey. Because of Abraham’s choice to obey, God established His covenant with him and to his seed. Genesis 17:7, Galatians 3:29
In Hebrews 11:24-29, we read about what Moses’ decision was when faced with the challenge of Truth. Moses chose to turn his back on the prestige and riches of Pharaoh’s palace and to suffer affliction with the people of God.
Because of this choice, he led the children of Israel out of bondage and led them to the Promise Land. In Daniel 3:10-12, we read about how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded when challenged by Truth.
They chose not to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image, but to only worship the one True God no matter what the consequences were. Daniel 3:16-18 The result of their choice was undisputable evidence of the power of the One True God that they served. Daniel 3:23-25,28
In Daniel 6:5-7, we read about Daniel’s reaction when challenged with Truth. He chose to remain faithful to the One True God and to continue to pray to Him daily. Daniel 6:10
This won him a night in the den of lions where God shut the mouths of the lions until Daniel was removed the next morning. Daniel 6:22-23
The Old Testament is filled with many other examples of men and women challenged by Truth. These challenges led them from the familiar into an unknown future.
It is safe to say that these men and women were all taken out of their “comfort zone”.
Now, let’s follow the challenge of Truth into the New Testament. In the Book of Acts we read about the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. On his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, he had an encounter with Jesus. Acts 9:1-6
This encounter revealed a great Truth which presented a challenge in Saul’s life. Saul chose to have a complete “about face”, a complete paradigm shift.
His view of Christianity was changed. He chose to obey this vision of Truth thus becoming an advocate for Truth and for the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
He was challenged throughout his ministry with much persecution. He was hunted by the Jews who hated him, yet Paul stood firm for the Truth never wavering. 2 Corinthians 11:25-28, 30, 32-33 He met the challenge that the Truth brought into his life and fought the good fight of faith and won the victory. 1 Timothy 4:7
Another Jew named Apollos, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures came to Ephesus. The Scripture tells us that Apollos only knew the Baptism of John. Acts 18:24-25
When two Apostolic believers named Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos, they pulled him aside and expounded the Word of God to him more perfectly. Acts 18:26
Apollos was faced with the challenge of Truth that day. How did he respond? The Scripture tells us that he, being a Jew himself, accepted this Truth and taught other Jews publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. Acts 18:27-28 We see that Apollos’ reaction to the challenge of Truth was to align his beliefs with the Word of God.
When Paul and Silas went into Berea, they met brethren there who when they heard the complete message of the Gospel, they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Acts 17:10-12
The challenge that the Bereans faced was to make sure that the things that Paul and Silas were telling them all lined up with the Scriptures, book, chapter, and verse. Once they saw this, they followed and believed the teachings of the Apostles.
Today, many of us have been faced with a huge challenge from the Scriptures. When we ourselves first heard about what the Scriptures say about Jesus returning in the first century, we too were very reluctant to believe this.
We totally understand this first reaction to this huge challenge of Truth.
Just like you, all we had ever heard was to expect the Return of Jesus to be very soon, in our lifetime. Anyone who would dare question this would be dismissed or labelled as a heretic.
However, when we began to search the Scriptures for ourselves, we began seeing things that the Scriptures were revealing to us. The more we looked, the more we discovered.
It was very challenging to us. We found out that when one is given the chance to hear what the Bible actually says about the Return of Jesus, it becomes crystal clear that Jesus and the Apostles preached that His Return would be during that first century generation. Matthew 16:27-28, 24:34, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:32, Revelation 1:1, 22:20
This means that with His Return, the gathering of the Church, the resurrection of the dead, and the judgment of the wicked also took place in the first century along with the fulfilment of ALL things that are written. Luke 21:22
This message is too important to keep quiet!
Jesus said in Matthew 10:27, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.”
That is exactly how we chose to answer the challenge of Truth today in our generation. We are telling anyone who is willing to listen. All we can do is faithfully quote the Word of God in context, exactly as it was written.
This Word of God is alive! Jesus said in John 8:31-32 that if we continue in His word, then are ye my disciples; and you shall know the Truth and the Truth will make you free!
Knowing the whole Truth is truly empowering and truly liberating. As it is written, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent.” Isaiah 55:11
We need to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
No other person is accountable for your choices; you will be held accountable for your own choices.
Are you going to search the matter out for yourself or are you going to take someone else’s interpretation of the Scriptures?
Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth.”
John 16:13 states that the Spirit of Truth will guide you into all Truth.
Romans 8:14 declares for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Galatians 6:7 states “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
If you are not willing to first listen and then study to prove for yourself what sayeth the Scriptures, you create within yourself the inability to grow.
Conclusion
As we see over and over again in the Bible, Truth will always bring you to a crossroads of decision. Truth will always present a challenge:
- Are you willing to follow Truth even though you might have to leave the comfort of familiar traditions behind?
- Are you willing to lay aside man-made doctrines and allow the Word of God to speak freely into your heart and mind?
The challenge of believing and obeying the Truth is that it can only mean what the Scriptures say, it cannot mean something that it never meant.
Walking in the light of God’s Word means doing and believing what God says to do and to believe; no matter who or what.
It is from the Bible that we form our doctrine. The Word of God always has the final say.
What will you do when Truth challenges you?
