Walk In The Lord’s Truth

 By Rich Carmicheal 

    We are living in a sobering time when many people are suppressing, distorting or outright rejecting the absolute truths related to the Lord and His Word, and are instead defining their own truths based on their own opinions and desires.  While this is very concerning, it is not surprising as the Bible warns of the “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18), and the day when people will “turn their ears away from the truth” (2 Tim. 4:4).  In light of this, it is all the more vital that we as believers keep our eyes on the Lord and walk fully in His truth.  Our focus and prayer should be the same as David’s:  “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.  I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore” (Psa. 86:11-12).

    Truth is, after all, of paramount significance to the Lord.  He Himself is the “God of truth” whose very nature abounds in truth (Psa. 31:5; Ex. 34:6).  His Son is “full of grace and truth” and is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 1:14; 14:6).  His Spirit is the “Spirit of truth” who guides us “into all truth” (John 16:13).  His Word is “the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) – “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psa. 119:160).

    As truth is central to who the Lord is, so He desires that truth fill our lives.  He wants “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4).  He desires truth in our innermost being (Psa. 51:6) and that we walk in the truth (3 John 1:4).  He seeks those who will “serve Him in sincerity and in truth” (Josh. 24:14) and worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23).  He calls us to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and to practice the truth and not evil (John 3:20-21).  In the day of evil, He calls us to take our stand, having girded our waist with truth (Eph. 6:13-14).  As His household – the church of the living God – we are to be the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).

God’s Truth Is Absolute and Unchanging

    Because God is who He is – eternal, self-existent, sovereign, omniscient and immutable – truths related to Him and His Word do not change.  What is true of Himself – “…I am the Lord, I do not change...” (Mal. 3:6), is likewise true of His Word – “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isa. 40:8).  Because He is the Creator, He has the first and the last word over all things, including over our lives.  He determines what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil.  While man may try to flex his muscle and attempt to refashion God and His standards of right and wrong, God and His Word will certainly prevail – and in the end His Word will be the basis for judgment against those who reject Him and His Word (John 12:48). 

Grievous Consequences

    In light of all of this, how tragic it is that so many today are not acknowledging God’s truth and walking according to it.  What makes this all the more grievous are the consequences of turning away from the truth of God.  Paul describes it this way:

    “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man....  Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.  …And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Rom. 1:18-25, 28).

    Does this not explain the tremendous spiritual and moral breakdown all around us?  And is it not a call to us to be all the more devoted to the Lord, all the more dedicated to His Word, and all the more discerning of the pull of the world away from His truth.  If there ever was a time to swim upstream in a downstream world, this is the time.  As A. W. Tozer states in one of his sermons, “It has been the history of the world that the masses are never right.  The masses were wrong at the time of Noah’s flood.  It was only Noah and his family that were right.  Error doesn’t become right by having numbers added to it.  One man standing has always been God Almighty’s order.  ...And the masses always go the wrong way.”  As Jesus teaches, we are to “enter by the narrow gate;  for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction...” (Matt. 7:13). 

About This Issue

    The Herald staff hopes and prays that the Lord will work through this issue to renew your commitment and devotion to Him and to His truth.  The opening messages are a reminder of who the Lord is and the need to walk in honor and fear of Him.  There are also messages on the need to embrace His Word and to “prove all things” by that Word of Truth in this day of much error and deception.  In addition, there are messages on the need for thorough repentance from sin – as all sin is ultimately against Him.

    We also hope this issue encourages you to continue to stand for truth and to speak the truth in love to others (Eph. 4:15).  To this end, consider this challenge by Erwin Lutzer from his book Who Are You To Judge? – “We must lovingly speak truth to this generation.  We must not think that the task is impossible, for God by the Spirit works to convict men of the truth.  We have help on our side.  We have to model discernment and jealously guard the truth for the benefit of our children and grandchildren.  Only a torch that is lit will ignite the next generation.”