Scripture tells us that one noticeable quality of the last days is the increase in deception, false teaching and false doctrines. Who can deny that we are seeing this very thing in our own day? I find it amazing that so many people no longer want to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, but prefer to be hyped up about their next level. Very rarely do you hear preaching on sin, repentance and holiness, while at the same time there is an abundance of preachers promoting a message of prosperity and destiny. The focus in all of these dangerous doctrines, in whatever form they are presented, is that they take the focus off Christ and make us, humanity, the focus of the gospel. While there is no doubt that Jesus came into the world to save lost humanity, the ultimate purpose was that the glory of God might be demonstrated by His mercy displayed towards us through Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2 tells us that those who are fooled by this rampant deception (and thus led astray from the simplicity of the true gospel of Christ) are led astray because they did not receive the love of the truth. When God’s Word is not esteemed and treasured as the very words of God, when it is not read and studied, when it is not used as the standard to judge all teachings, we become ripe for deception. The Bible tells us that the human heart is deceitfully wicked, yet we trust this heart to guide us into truth when we neglect to fill it with God’s word?? My heart will always gravitate to what pleases my flesh, not what pleases God. My heart will always exalt me, not God.
It is only as we cultivate a love of the truth that we will be safe from the false. When we love the truth, really love it, we will treasure and obey even the difficult commands of Scripture that require sacrifice on our part. When we love the truth, we would rather be excluded and thought poorly of than to compromise on the doctrines of the faith and fit in with others who are following those who speak to their itching ears.
Let us therefore be diligent to hide His truth in our hearts. Let us treasure it, love it and hold fast to it.
“Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17
In February of this year a good friend of mine died from cancer. He was also my boss and a brother in the Lord. He had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma 5 years ago and I was able to witness up close his journey through chemo, remission, chemo again, transplant, return of cancer, another transplant, and then a final downturn that he didn’t recover from.
Charles was a remarkable person in many ways, but the one thing that stands out above all others is his remarkable love for people. He was interested in the details of their lives. And not just the people he knew. His wife recently shared a story with me about Charles striking up a conversation with a man putting flyers on cars in our office parking lot. He gave the man a Bible and shared some words of encouragement with him and just genuinely showed interest in this man’s life. This man still remembers Charles and carries that Bible with him in his truck. The fact that a total stranger cared about him made an impact on his life.
But what I carry closest to my heart are these words that Charles was known to speak in response to those who became frustrated with others – Love the people.
Over the past 6 months I have reflected back on the 10 years I knew Charles. I suspect that there are many wonderful things about him that I never knew. But one thing I do know – Charles was a man whose heart’s desire was to demonstrate the love of Christ. And he did it. He did it.
And I am forever changed. And learning to love the people.
He is my Delight 