Sunday, September 20, 2015

The Truth or a Delusion - which one runs your life?




Choosing the Truth or a Delusion
Barbara Henderson

Mortimer and Dexter grew up in the same town, went to the same church, went to the same school, were the same economic and social levels, and even liked the same things growing up.
But….
Eventually they came to a cross roads.  Would they choose to believe the Bible or choose to reject it?  Would they act on their choice?

Both Mortimer and Dexter actually did believe the Bible. However, Dexter did not like what it had to say.  He did not want to live by the rules set down in the Bible.  He found some of what the Bible had to say acceptable.  For instance he didn’t believe in murdering another person.  He didn’t believe in lying, but it was occasionally acceptable under certain situations. In fact, Dexter was almost 100% in favor of situation ethics.  His reasoning told him that the same question under different circumstances could warrant an entirely opposite answer.  Even murder was questionable when it came to pregnant women. If a woman didn’t want to be pregnant then she should have the right to kill the unborn baby.  Dexter was a realist in many ways.  He had seen the ultra sounds and pictures of unborn babies.  It was obvious that they were human beings.  But that didn’t give them the right to commandeer a woman’s body.  He was also in favor of situation ethics when it came to ending the life of the disabled and mentally handicapped.  Adultery wasn’t alright, but in some cases a person had the right to cheat because their significant other was very difficult.  And the list goes on.  Dexter chose not to act on the teachings of the Bible, but rather to choose his own way.

Mortimer wasn’t all that happy with some of the things in the Bible either, but he had chosen to believe it from start to finish and to act on his beliefs.  In Mortimer’s mind there was no question that if the first verse of the Bible was true then all of it was true.  He reasoned that the same God who spoke the world into place would have no problem having a few scribes write down exactly what He wanted written down.  Then God would have no problem preserving it as written.  Over time Mortimer became thankful that God did not change. There were some things he simply did not understand, but he grew to trust God that everything was right as written, and that he would understand it in heaven.  Mortimer’s faith grew. His actions were witness to the fact that he believed the Bible.
Dexter’s faith was like the seed on rocky ground.  It withered and faded away.

Mortimer loved the truth more than he loved his own way.
Dexter loved his own way more than he loved the truth.

Of course we know Jesus is the Truth, but the world is full of truths that people easily reject.  Currently the truth that children do better in a home where they are raised by their own mother and father is rejected because it is not in line with current life styles.  Single moms are praised on one hand for bravely facing the world without a dad for their children.  They are also pitied and given welfare to support their ungodly lifestyles.  (This is not taking about parents who are single through no fault of their own.  It is talking about women who intentionally or carelessly produce children without ever marrying the father.)

Addictions of all sorts are excused instead of treated.  Do you know someone murdered by a drunk driver?  What sort of prison sentence did they get?  I am guessing seven years maximum with time off for good behavior.  The truth is that drunk chose to drink and drive.  That is premeditated murder.   

Addictions is anything that requires more and more to gain the emotional high that someone is seeking.  Drugs and alcohol are the two main things people think of when they think of addiction.  There are those in churches who seek ‘spiritual highs’ through speaking in tongues.  Truly, they are addicts.  They need more and more to get that high.  Their so-called church services descend into chaotic messes.  Here is a quote from C. S. Lewis that is relevant today as when it was written in 1960..
     'The whole lesson of my life has been that no ‘methods of stimulation’ are of any lasting use. They are indeed like drugs—a stronger dose is needed each time and soon no possible dose is effective. We must not bother about thrills at all. Do the present duty—bear the present pain—enjoy the present pleasure—and leave emotions and ‘experiences’ to look after themselves.’

Currently there is a news story of a 103 year old Baptist woman who has attended the same church since she was 11 years old!  You would think the church would be thankful for such a person.  Instead – they have kicked her out of the church!!!  She says the problem is,
     ‘The core of the problem, according to Biggs, is that Union Grove Baptist has been a Baptist church throughout its history. However, she described Mattox as a holiness preacher with a different doctrine.
“He is a holy sanctified minister or so he says. We voted him in and we didn’t know it until he was there. We are Baptists and that’s what we want to stay,” Biggs said.’

Genora Hamm Biggs is a woman who loves the truth more than she loves getting along.  She is willing to fight for the truth and right.  In a large part of society today, whether they are Christian or not, there is no love of the truth.
When a man or woman has no sincere love of the truth there is no limit to the delusions for which they will fall.  Without a love of the truth they are free to do what is right in their own eyes, or ‘what is right for them’. Seriously, there is no line drawn that cannot be erased when there is no love of the truth. 

People who don’t love the truth have opened themselves up to delusions.  If you reject the truth that there is one way into heaven through Jesus Christ then you can accept any delusional way into heaven.  Why not?

When the truth is rejected people look for something to fill the empty place where truth should reside.  What is there besides the truth?  Without the truth you are left with lies.  And lies lead to delusions.  A delusion is a false belief that is resistant to reason and actual facts.  Why do you see extreme liberals calling people names instead of giving a rational argument for their case?  The reason is there is no rational reason.  The facts do not support their beliefs.  They are delusional.  They not only do not love the truth, they hate the truth!

Here is the truth.
You will chose to believe the truth according to the triune God of the Bible, or you will become delusional.  You won’t know the truth from a lie because you don’t love the truth.

Part of evangelism of the young people in our churches should be to teach them to love the truth.  Teach them that God’s word is true without error. The Bible is the standard by which truth can be separated from lies.  Adults need to first love the truth themselves before they can teach children to love the truth.

The peace that passes understanding begins with a growing love of the truth.  Chaos begins with rejecting the truth.  Those ‘hard questions’ become much simpler when truth is the test of the correct answer.  Abortion?  Is the unborn baby a human being or not? Answer yes or no.  Irrelevant questions include, ‘is it mentally handicapped or deformed?’, ‘was the baby conceived through rape or incest?’, ‘Is the woman ready to be a mother?’, ‘Will the baby be born into poverty?’, and ‘Will the baby be a burden to society?’.  These questions are just gray areas designed to confuse the issue.  They have nothing to do with ‘does this child have a right to life?’. 

It is entirely true that the things God calls sin are actually sin no matter what the world calls them.  You don’t have to struggle with the ‘human side of the equation’. Jesus already did that for you.  He gave us the truth. He gave instructions for dealing with sinners.  He gave us instructions for charity.  He gave us instructions for raising a family.

John 8:32 says,’ And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The truth is Jesus Christ and His word.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 says, ‘ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.’

I have read several commentaries that put this within the tribulation period.  However we can see the things mentioned happening now, but possibly not to the level of depravity that will occur in the tribulation.  We see people who take pleasure in unrighteousness.  Have you seen the videos exposing the murderous actions of Planned Parenthood employees?  They are taking pleasure in their work of dismembering living babies.  Many things happening today are being forced on society as right and good when they are clearly wrong and based on lies.

When facing the meltdown of society the recourse of Christians throughout history has been and is to love the truth, tell the truth, and teach the truth.  Let us all be more careful in our own lives to live our lives in the truth of Jesus Christ.  Let our own love of truth and right grow. 

There are specific blessings that belong only to those who love the truth.  Those who reject the truth will never be comforted by 2 Timothy 1:7 says, ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.’  According to the Most High God this is the truth. Those who love God and His word will read this verse and be comforted.  When you accept and love the truth then you don’t need a delusion to find a fearless life, power, love, and a sound mind.

It is painful to see world leaders who are obviously delusional.  To me there is something about a delusional person that makes them appear uncomfortable and anxious.  When they speak they are trying to convince themselves they are telling the truth.  But, deep down, they know they are speaking lies.  When you are watching liberal politicians they all have the same hopeless expression in their eyes. They attract other hopeless people.  All a Christian can do as a way of combating this is tell the truth.  We don’t know at what point some of them will become weary enough to look for a better way.  Someone who rejects the truth completely has to want a change for the better enough to go way out of their comfort zone. They have to admit everything they have lived by is a lie.  For a delusional person to convert to Jesus Christ is no easy task. Yet, Jesus converts difficult cases every single day.  The job of Christians is to make the message clear and plain.
     Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’  John 14:6

Rescue the Perishing

  1. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
    Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
    Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
    Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
    • Refrain:
      Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
      Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
  2. Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
    Waiting the penitent child to receive;
    Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
    He will forgive if they only believe.
  3. Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
    Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
    Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
    Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

Throw Out the Lifeline

Draw Me Nearer

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

All the Way My Savior Leads Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHLomdhmzXw&index=24&list=PLUSRfoOcUe4bdGp_U2QpOReB-UwJQ3PGD


Visit my youtube channel and become a follower.  The Silver Lining will have videos relating to life in general, including my cancer  experience, Christian faith, cooking, pets, and whatever seems interesting to me at the time.
Thank you.
Barbara
 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgE6qhrnGawGggHMa555I6Q


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