Psalm 119:142
Have you ever felt confused about what you believed?
Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Scientology, Mormonism, Atheism, and the list keeps going and going. People even pick and choose what they want to believe so they can make it fit to their lifestyle.
Can we pick and choose? Do all paths just lead to one outcome? Is there really one truth?
Play by the Rules
We are a generation that has many people and religious groups to bombard us with claiming that their truth is real or that all religions are true. What would that look like if there wasn't one truth.
"Hey Sam you wanna play a game?" Joanna asked as she pulled out her favorite game.
"Sure; as long as Caitlyn and John can play." Sam replied gesturing with his thumb to his friends coming into the room.
After setting up everything Joanna was going to explain the rules of the game and how to win. Her mouth was open and she didn't get a word out when John picked up his game piece from the 'start' square and counted three squares down the little road.
"Go ahead Caitlyn, your turn."
"Um, John. That's not how the game goes. You didn't use the dice and I'm supposed to go after you because I'm to your left." Joanna said, wondering if John ever played a board game before.
"Oh no. That's not how I play. I play by my rules." John said with a smirk.
On hearing that, Caitlyn rolled the die. She got a four.
"One-two-three-four-five-and six. Your turn Sam."
"Caitlyn, you said you played before. What are you doing?" Joanna started to feel heat rising from deep down inside like a furnace was kicking up the heat.
"I have! It's just that last time I lost, soooo, I'm going to add two to the number of die I get every time I roll so I can have a better chance at winning."
"Caitlyn, What?! That doesn't make any sense and that's not fair!"
"I think it's fair. I wanna win this time. Or maybe we could play in such a way so we all can win! Now that's what I call fair." Caitlyn exclaimed excitedly as she gave the dice to Sam.
"Sam...tell them the rules. You know this game just as well as me."
Sam looked at his sister then at his friends. He looked uncomfortable. Then the look on his face changed and he said with a mocking smile.
"Joanna, come on. Maybe the rules aren't even accurate. I think it'll be a lot more fun making up different rules and doing what we want to do."
Joanna stared at her brother in horror. He loved this game. What happened? They continued to play the game. Joanna read the rules over and over committing them to memory while they laughed, joked and acted crazy. Finally Joanna ran to her dad to seek his advice in the matter. She said she wanted to beat them up and smack the sense in their stupid heads. Her father looked at her intently.
"Joanna don't say things like that. Don't worry I'll go talk to them right now."
Calmly, he went into the living room. He explained to them the rules of the game and made it clear that everyone had to follow the same rules.
That is exactly the same for us. Sam represents people who want to follow their own way, making up rules that best suite their own wants and desires. Caitlyn represents the people who accepted Christ but they didn't get the answers they liked or wanted so they turned to a religion. Sam represents a follower of Christ who is weak minded. He couldn't even stand for his faith because he couldn't remember God's word and didn't really know God personally. Joanna represents a true follower of Christ. She did not waver. When she was reading the rules that represented us having to read God's word. We need to read, study, meditate and think about it throughout the day. Finally, the father represented God. We need to run to Him and and seek His wisdom, counsel and advice, through trying times when we forget what the truth is.
The whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
"In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food."
Hebrews 5:12
What does that verse even mean?! You may wonder. At first I wondered about what it meant as well. Then God showed me.
This verse was a part of a letter to the early Christian church. This was a section of the letter that was written to warn the followers of Christ about falling away. What does falling away have to do with the truth? EVERYTHING!!
When it talks about living off of milk that signifies infancy. Infants have to drink milk until they get their teeth in when they can then take on solid food. Just like us, once we accept Jesus He provides us milk for the first couple day, weeks or months but; you can't live off of that forever. As you get older you need solid food to nourish you. That's why it's a good idea to listen to Christians who are further down the road then you. God showed them what they now understand and what they learned about God's truth. Then, if your open to the Holy Spirit he will expand your (and my) narrow mind to grasp the bigger picture on what truth exactly is.
If someone where to ask you, "What is truth?" How would you respond? Just earlier this year I would have thought really hard and shrugged my shoulders in defeat. It actually says what truth is right in the Bible.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
That's the wrong question. We shouldn't ask,
"What is truth?"
We should ask,
"Who is truth?"
I don't know about you but that really makes me think. It also says that He is the way and that no one can get to the Father except through Him. That answers the question or statement the all paths lead to one God.
Did you know that God's truth and 'rules' are there to protect us from ourselves? When we obey Him and stand strong in the truth we have more freedom then we do when we follow our own way.
Dear reader, what will you choose today? Will you choose to follow your way or the truth?
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