A Firm Foundation Pt 2-The Undiluted Truth
Episode 73
We started a new series on the theme-A Firm Foundation in the last episode. I introduced our theme by pointing out that the only way we can conquer the adversities of life is by intentionally building our spiritual lives on the foundation of the word of God. I concluded the last episode by stating that our goal in this series is to explore various principles that determine the way God relates with us from His word.
So in this episode, we shall consider the topic-The UndilutedTruth. It is important that we find out what is true according to the Word of God in order to put this side by side with what you consider as your own truth and to respond to the question whether you are building your foundation on the truth.
The Search for Absolute Truth
“So let’s start with the question what is truth? We are living in a time when people say the truth is subjective and depends on the circumstance and the way one feels and that the truth can change.”
“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous ordinance is everlasting”
– Psalm 119:160
Biblical Definition of Truth
So what is truth? Let’s try to describe what we understand as truth from this scripture. Truth is the totality of God’s Word. Truth is the unchanging expression of who God is. Truth is not our own individual interpretation of reality according to our circumstances or feelings. Truth is expressed through the mind and will of God. Truth is an attribute of God’s character. Truth is absolute and unchanging. Truth is essential for the Christian life. Truth is manifested through the Word of God. And the scripture is the final authority on what is true.
Put simply, only the Word of God as found in the scripture and what it says about God and you and I is the truth. The truth never changes and anything that is contrary to the truth is a lie.
Why are many Christians not growing enough spiritual muscle to confront the challenges of life? It is because a lot of Christians have an indifferent attitude to the Word of God. We all believe that the Bible is the Word of God. Yet we do not prioritize the Word of God. We are not placing the value we should on it. We are not treating the Word of God as the voice of God.
The devil does everything possible to get Christians to doubt the Word of God, or to dilute it with religious and unscriptural doctrines.
In my conversations with people, I find that their understanding of the Word of God is based on religion, misrepresentations, half truths; traditions of men and man-made rules; personal experiences, unscriptural prophesies and very much diluted. In fact, Christians dismiss those who insist on strict adherence to the scriptures as fanatics.
Biblical Example: Peter’s Compromise
The practice of combining the Word of God with tradition and religion did not start today. Recall that Peter in the Bible, after God had instructed him to take salvation to the Gentiles and not to discriminate against them, still tried to undermine the Gospel by mixing the Gospel with the Jewish tradition. In Galatians 2:11-, we read that after Peter had been mixing and eating freely with the Gentiles, he suddenly withdrew from eating with them when some Jewish believers started insisting that the Gentiles should be made to obey Jewish traditions. Peter bowed to the pressure. But Apostle Paul confronted Peter publicly, reminding him that people are justified only by faith in Christ and not by keeping the Jewish tradition. God had instructed Peter not to discriminate against the Gentiles in Acts 10, but due to social pressure, he bowed to the traditions of men.
Do you know that when you are mixing the Word of God with other religious beliefs and opinions, you are practicing a different religion? Apostle Paul said in Galatians 1:7 that when you are twisting the truth of the Gospel, you are preaching a different gospel.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
– Matthew 7:24
Jesus was emphatic that a man who pays attention to His Word is like a wise man who built his house on the rock while the man who does not pay attention to His Word is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. A man whose version of the Word of God is based on half truths, misrepresentations and diluted versions is obviously not building a firm foundation. In order to build a firm spiritual foundation upon which we can mature spiritually and receive the boldness to reign on the earth and conquer challenges, you must push aside every attempt of the devil to confuse you about what is the truth.
It is possible to build a beautiful house without a firm foundation. So its also possible to make progress; to acquire possessions and fame without a firm spiritual foundation. But such a life is fragile. When the storms and challenges of life come, you are not likely to stand without a firm foundation.
The message of this Episode is that only the Word of God is truth, absolute, unchanging and must not be diluted. You cannot afford to dilute the Word of God with any other idea or opinion if you want to build a firm foundation that would stand no matter what challenges come up in the future.
Romans 10:17 says that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”.
Romans 12:2 states-“And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God”.
You have to study, meditate, believe and plant the Word of God in your heart to the point that it becomes your philosophy of life and bears fruit. If you are indifferent, unserious and inconsistent in the way you study and take in the Word of God, your foundation cannot be firm. The devil’s strategy is to subtly confuse your mind and way of thinking with lies and half truths. But as you renew your mind to the truth of the Word of God, you would be able to stand firm on the truth of the Word of God when the devil attempts to sow lies on your heart.
Practical Application: Spiritual Warfare Example
One of the traditions of our times which many Christians swear by is the belief that the best time to do spiritual warfare is by 12 midnight because that is when the demons are active. I do not subscribe to this teaching for several reasons. One is that I have not come across this teaching in the bible. Two is that all the times Jesus and His disciples cast out demons and evil spirits, they did it during the day while they were with the people. Three, is that I have unshakeable faith that my prayers in Jesus Name anytime I go to bed binding the demons would keep them bound even at 12 midnight. I have no problem with praying at midnight because the Spirit of God wakes you up to pray or you decide to do so. But I do not believe you have to do warfare with demons at 12 midnight because that is when they are active. After all its not a physical warfare. It is a spiritual activity.
Colossians 2:8 states-Beware, lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men.
The word philosophy means a way of thinking that acts as a person’s guiding principle or behavior. A person’s philosophy in life is the beliefs and personal attributes of that person that guides their actions. You should study and spend so much time with the Word of God that your philosophy of life begins to conform to the Word of God. You should study the bible so much that your normal response to the issues of life would align with the Word of God. Our goal should be to slowly dismantle and replace our philosophies to align with the Word of God. It is very important that we grasp the truth that only the Word of God is the absolute truth and that it cannot change. God’s Word needs to be the final authority in your life. You need to decide within you that only the Word of God as found in the bible is truth. You need to place absolute trust in the truth of the Word of God and not be distracted by any foreign ideas. And the only way you can build a firm strong and durable foundation from which you can live a life of victory is to place unshakeable confidence in the Word of God.
Dear Lord, help us to stand firm in the knowledge and revelation that the sum of your word is truth, that the truth of your word is absolute and unchanging; that every one of your righteous ordinance is everlasting; and that your word never fails in Jesus Name. Amen