“Contend earnestly for the faith.” Jude 3 NKJV
“Be true to the Truth!”
My thoughts today are about “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
The truth! That is the oath to which every person is asked to swear when a witness in court. Our entire judicial system operates on the basis of truth telling. So does life and faith. The whole truth! If it is not the whole truth it ceases to be true. Anything left out of truth allows there to be some measure of error – partial truth is not good enough. Nothing but the truth! Anything you add to truth diminishes its purity and distorts its accuracy. Truth cannot be finessed; it is either all true or not true at all.
Jesus said this of the god of this world; “There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:45 NLT. The devil and enemy of your soul does not deal in truth at all. When he tried to distort a measure of truth when confronting Jesus in the wilderness temptations, Jesus answered with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. See Matthew 4:1-11 NIV.
God “who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2 NKJV) values truth very highly. Read the stern warning given in the Bible about anyone who would add to the Bible or take away from its words. See Revelation 22:18-19 NIV. The Apostle Paul plainly declares, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” Romans 3:4 NIV. It was unthinkable to Paul that it could ever be otherwise.
A dear friend of mine reminded me that in counsel years before, I said to him a few simple words that gave him clarity when so much seemed confused, “Be true to the truth!” Don’t mess with it; don’t rationalize it; don’t adjust it for your advantage; don’t compromise it; don’t be casual about it. Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32 NIV.
The Bible urges you as a Christ-follower, “Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” Jude 3 NIV. What is the truth for which you and I are to contend and are called to defend? The truth of our common faith is: infallibility of Scripture, the virgin birth of the Savior, Jesus’ sinless life, the atoning death, the bodily resurrection of Christ, every man’s need to be saved, the only Name by which salvation comes, proclaiming the Gospel to all the earth, and the return of the Savior to rule and reign as Sovereign.
You will only steadfastly contend for what you believe with all of your heart and soul – your conviction of truth. Men do not die for what they know to be untrue. But there are warnings in Scripture. Listen to these words of warning: “We must pay more careful attention therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1 NIV. Isn’t that so descriptive? Drifting away! That’s what happens if you are not fully committed to knowing the truth, living the truth, and holding fast to what’s true. It can happen almost without yours or others’ notice. Move always to the truth, never even a small step away from it. See Proverbs 23:23 NIV.
My prayer for you today is to love the truth and live in the truth always.