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
- 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. - 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. - 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.
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
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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