Getting the Right Answers
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan,
with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception
among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth,
that they might be saved.
with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception
among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth,
that they might be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:9,10
Not only is obedience more important than understanding, it also happens to be the key to understanding. If we approach the discovery of truth with any intent other than to obey the truth once we discover it, it's not likely that we'll find the truth we're looking for. Getting the right answers to our questions depends greatly on our reasons for asking those questions.
In the above text, Paul wrote of those whose minds were confused and deceived by the "lying wonders" of Satan. Our adversary is indeed a crafty deceiver, and those who'll perish in the battle against him will be those who "did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved." But notice what Paul said in the two verses that immediately follow: "And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:11,12). These words are a wake-up call, are they not? To study with anything less than the honest intent to act on the truth is to doom ourselves to being deceived. In the quest for spiritual truth, as in most important endeavors, very much depends on our motive.
When Jesus of Nazareth appeared in Galilee, proclaiming that His teaching was God's word to humankind, some saw the sense in what He said and others did not. What made the difference? Was it simply that some were more insightful than others? No, Jesus Himself said that it would be those who desired not simply to know but to do God's will who would discern that it was God's word they were hearing. "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority" (John 7:17). Even on such a fundamental question as that of Jesus' identity, getting the right answer depends on what we intend to do with the answer once we find it. Seeking the knowledge of God is a very serious business.
Anyone who attempts to read the Bible should begin with
a genuine respect for God. Then there needs to be a firm desire
to reform one's life according to its teaching.
Thomas Cranmer
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Copyright © 2006 by Gary Henry - Visit the WordPoints web site: www.wordpoints.com
3 comments:
This is a good report. I pray that God will open our spiritual eyes and ears, to know His word better, and like you say, then walk the walk when we understand more.
If someone is seeking truth, wouldn't their motives already be genuine? No one seeks the truth to find it and then ignore it.
Your point is very valid but the verse is addressing unbelievers (that they might be saved). I do agree that obedience to what God is telling us (truth) is undeniably an action that we must take.
C.S. Lewis did not have the motive of promoting Christ, more accurately he wanted to disprove the Bible. Case for Christ was the book he wrote from his study. This was essentially his realization that God's teachings were infallible. Would that make Lewis wrong in his motives?
On one hand, I have found the people in my past who regularly pointed to chapter and verse with 'interpretation' of what they felt I needed to hear or their version of what God was telling me, were driven to prove they are right and not to provide God's truth to others. This obviously is not always the case but for me, it takes a lot for me to not question someones motives.
I truly believe that God brings the growth in our life and just as much as we are unable to provide our own salvation, we are just as unable to make the increase in our spiritual maturity regardless of our motives. God brings the increase for us. We just have to let him work.
As a Christian, there have been issues that have been difficult for me due to many things: my lack of maturity, sin, the lack of conviction in the matter or even that God was not addressing that issue in my life. For instance, the bible states in every passage I could quote do not be intoxicated with drink, although some run with this idea that all alcohol is ungodly. Some would say I am not being godly when I have a glass of wine since that is not their conviction. Anyway...
Sorry, a bit of a rabbit trail here....very thought provoking post, as usual :o)
There goes emma cottontail hoppin down the bunny trail!
I'm too tired right now to make sense of anything.
God's Grace is abounding....
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