Are You A Truth Seeker?

The post below is reprinted in its entirety with permission from its author, Dr. Donald Ward.

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Dr. Donald Ward

Are you a truth seeker? What does the word truth mean to you? Do you understand how precious truth is? The greatest truths of the ages center on the answers to the questions of: Who is God? What is God? and What is His purpose? And the corollary to those questions are the same ones as they relate to humanity: Who is man? What is man? and What is his purpose? Could you provide a convincing answer to each of these questions?

The libraries and the Internet abound with information, and knowledge is being rapidly increased. Yet the truth that will truly set a person free from fear, ignorance, superstition and the dogmas of man is more and more difficult to discover. The apostle Paul prophesied that humanity would ever be learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2Timothy 3:7).

I believe that most people would say that they are truth seekers. But there is a great paradox that is operant in our society when it comes to seeking the truth. People want to know the truth about individuals, they want to know the truth about the people they do business with, they want to know the truth about politicians and celebrities; but this obsession has no transcendental purpose. When so-called juicy bits of gossip are aired, do those revelations raise our sights to become more noble and honorable people?

Does digging up the dirt and throwing it in the faces of others produce behavioral change? Or is this just another form of voyeurism in which people are entertained by viewing the dirty laundry of their fellow humans? And in some cases, living their lives vicariously through others.

All of the social barometers cry out loud and clear that our society continues to slide and slouch toward Sodom and Gomorrah. One of the discussion panel news programs closes with each panel member articulating the “outrage” of the week. But it seems that people are no longer outraged to the point of action about anything. And if they do raise their voices, it is usually through violent protests that serve to further exacerbate the tensions that caused the problems in the first place.

We have been desensitized and dumbed down to the point that almost no one dares to take a stand about anything. So once again, are you a truth seeker, and would you have the courage to embrace the truth and act on it?

We need what I call “3C” people: people of conviction, commitment and courage. Conviction comes from knowing within your heart and mind that a certain principle is right, just and good. Commitment has to do with realizing that the things you have been taught and convicted of are to be held in sacred trust and defended with all your being. And courage is really a product of conviction and commitment, to the degree that you are convicted and committed, you will respond courageously.

It is ironic and paradoxical that Americans will spend billions of dollars digging up dirt, printing gossip and broadcasting it, while the greater issues of life go unanswered. What happens to us after we die? Do good people literally go to a place called heaven that is filled with eternal bliss? Do bad people literally go to a place called hell where they are tormented in hell fire forever and ever? Do you have an immortal soul? And if so, where did it come from? Did God create a good, pure and righteous immortal soul and place it in a sinful body and then challenge you to “save your soul?”

These are just of the few great questions of life. But no one really pays much attention to these questions. Even the people who claim to believe in God have to a large degree made God over in their image to conform to their lifestyle and to their notions about what is acceptable to God and what is not. As a result, that which is good is called evil, and that which is evil is called good.

The Desire for Social Acceptance

Talk shows abound with everybody under the sun giving their opinion on whatever the talking point of the day is. But who or what is their authority? In turn, talk show hosts will then editorialize and give his/her point of view. But little is done to really challenge the foundational understanding of why we are on this earth.

Even when a guest might bring up certain principles that are backed by the Bible, the quick response by the hosts is to state that there are many interpretations of the Bible and he/she doesn’t necessarily see it that way. So even the plain words of the Bible are dismissed as just another opinion. Thus in effect agnosticism reigns supreme. No one knows anything absolutely; it is all reduced to a matter of personal opinion.

People are somewhat comforted by this, apparently believing that their position is justified. We are left with the erroneous position that one opinion is just as true as another. This kind of sloppy reasoning leads to people creating God in their own image—as a result they delve into more and more aberrant ways of expressing their so-called individuality and spirituality.

The greatest fear of humankind is social ostracism. People will do almost anything to remain a part of whatever social structure they are in. From the jet set to the corporate set to the political set to the media set to the man on the street to main street America to the gangs in the ghetto, the emphasis is on pleasing those who make the images.

If you don’t fit the image, if you are not politically correct, if you don’t do as they do, then you are out. There is indeed a tyranny of the peer group at every level of our society.

As a 3C person you can break the chains that bind you and be set free.

Humankind has been deceived and enslaved through fear, ignorance, superstition and the dogmas of man. The world is currently being enslaved more and more in the name of freedom, but that freedom is in fact just another form of slavery. There is only one path to true freedom, which Jesus Christ proclaimed: “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). These are the truths that will determine your future and the future of your children.

The truth is: You were born for a great transcendental purpose. You were born to become a member of the family of God. The truth is: God exists and earnestly desires to have a relationship with you. The truth is: Man does not have an immortal soul. We must receive eternal life from our Creator. The truth is: Humans have no consciousness after death. The truth is: You do not go to heaven when you die. The truth is: God is going to resurrect the faithful at the sound of the seventh trumpet when Jesus comes again. The truth is: You will rule on the earth with God and Christ as kings and priests. The truth is: Sinners will not burn forever and ever in hell fire. They will be burned up and become ashes under the feet of the righteous.

The truth is: Jesus was not born in December, and nowhere do the Scriptures even suggest that we observe His birthday at any time during the year. The truth is: Jesus was not crucified on Good Friday, and He not did rise from the grave on Sunday. The truth is: There will not be a rapture of the Church before the great tribulation. These are just a few of the truths that you can and should know.

Satan and his agents would have you believe the very opposite of these precious truths. Satan is the master of deceit and is deceiving the whole world. You must come to love the truth as much as you love your life. So now is the time to take to heart the words of the apostle Paul in his epistle to young Timothy: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul further admonishes the ministry to preach the word, for the time will come when people will turn from the truth and be turned to fables (2 Timothy 4:1-4).

And above all, develop a deep abiding love of the truth so you will not be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine and be deceived. “And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 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 2:10-12).

So ask yourself: Am I a truth seeker? Do I love the truth?

It is a matter of life and death.

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Published in its entirety with permission of the author Dr. Donald Ward.

The 2nd Greatest Commandment

This is a study I prepared for myself after being convicted by a sermon given at the Feast of Tabernacles this year. This is not an attempt to re-create that Feast sermon but a study I did to deal with my own shortcomings and judgmental attitudes. I thought I’d share it with you today in case you too might find it helpful.

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As we make our way through this world each day, we encounter others who do not know God’s truth and their words and their actions give testimony to that fact. They’re just trying to make their way in this world too but do it without the benefit of God’s Spirit and His truth to guide their way.

Either they haven’t been given the instruction manual to life or they haven’t been given the key to unlocking its contents. In other words, they don’t know any better. But how do we react to others we meet along the way?

Do we ever shake our heads or roll our eyes in disdain because of what someone says or the way they act? Maybe they let their children dress up as demons to celebrate Halloween or they’re decorating their house for the Christmas holidays?

Just shaking our heads or rolling our eyes without engaging with them doesn’t enlighten them to change their behavior and bashing them over the head with a few choice verses certainly doesn’t help either.

“You know, in Jeremiah 10 it says we shouldn’t put up Christmas trees!”

We have been given the truth and the ability to understand the deep things of God but to them it has not been given. (1Cor 2:10) So how can we hold that against them? And who are we to treat them like heathens? (1Cor 1:26-31) Sometimes we can forget from whence we came, once we have come into His marvelous light. (1Pet2:9)

There have probably been many times in the past when we have felt like we have had to defend our faith against the attacks of non-believers, be they family or friends, and against false Christianity in general, such that we’re in an ever ready state to go on the offensive. Maybe we even have a chip on our shoulder, a “Christian chip”, daring anyone to just try and knock it off! Standing at the ready with our sword, so at the slightest appearance of a provocation we can cut asunder their false beliefs and pagan practices, (Heb 4:12) but to what end? Does it further the cause of Christ? Or is it only an attempt to justify our own beliefs, to prove that we are right and to exalt ourselves over them.

Let’s turn to Luke 18:9 and let’s see where this can lead in the extreme. We can get to the point where we have forgotten that it is only by God’s grace that have been called, not by anything we’ve done, but it is the gift of God.

Luke 18:9-14 New King James Version (NKJV)

  

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

[Who did they trust in? What was their attitude toward the others?]

¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. [or this Catholic, or that Methodist]

¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 

[I keep the Sabbath, I keep the Holy Days, I don’t eat pork or shrimp, I don’t do Christmas.]

¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Pharisee was diligent to follow the letter of the law and thought of himself as one in right standing with God, one of His true disciples, but he thought of those who were not as beneath him and ignorant and unworthy.

Is this how the guardians of God’s truth are to act? Is the look on our face one of a loving brother who understands why they err and tries to gently reveal to them the Father (Matt 11:27) or is it one of superiority and self-righteousness. Sometimes our pride in our own knowledge can get in the way.

Keep in mind this was a study for me dealing with my own issues. Ever have to give yourself a good talking to?

We have been given so much by God - truth, knowledge, and understanding and yet sometimes we hold it against those to whom it has not been given. When someone gives you a special gift, do you act like you’re maybe a little better than others who didn’t receive one? We know intellectually that we shouldn’t do that but deep down do our actions demonstrate otherwise? Do we act like we’re better than others because we have received such a marvelous gift?

Or are you quick to give credit to the giver and tell them from whom you got the gift and how much it means to you? Maybe even tell them of the special relationship you have with that person and how special they are to you and you to them.

When we see those who have not been called, do the things they do, let’s not be judgmental or hold them in contempt. Jesus Himself told us that second only to loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang ALL the Law and the prophets. (Matt 22:37-40)  Both are important! Let’s look at Mark 12:28 –

Getting our relationship right with God is a full-time job, at least for me it is. And we sometimes have a tendency to put our entire focus on that and that alone.

Mark 12:28-34 New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁸ Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”
²⁹ Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.

³⁰ And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

THIS is the 2^nd Greatest Commandment!

³² So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.

³³ And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

³⁴ Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” [And isn’t that what we all are seeking?]

So we must love both God and our neighbor. For who can say, “I love God,” and hate his brother… for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1John 4:20) The parable of the good Samaritan helping the stranger in Luke chapter 10 teaches us that our neighbor is not just the guy next door, or the people who live in our community, it’s everyone we meet! This parable also teaches us that we can’t sit idly by either, we have to get involved!

We are called to be fishers of men. (Matt 4:19) But you have to do something to attract the fish. You have to engage. As we know, only God the Father can draw them (John 6:44), but we bait the hook. 

When someone says to you, "Jesus is the reason for the season!”, instead of keeping quiet, or saying, "No, he's not! Christmas goes all the way back to Babylon and Mithraism, sun worship and the Saturnalia! Say instead something like, "What makes you say that"? drawing them into conversation. You may just get an opening to give them a tidbit of truth to chew on.

Let’s not hold people in contempt for not knowing the truth. Let’s instead show compassion for them, knowing how they must be suffering inside going through the same struggles we face in this life but having to do so without the precious gift we’ve been given. And it’s only going to get worse.

Let’s not give them a reason to dismiss the good news of the kingdom of God because of our attitude. (Mark 1:14-15) Instead, let’s give them every reason to ask us about the light that shines within us. (1Pet 3:15-16; Matt 5:16) Let’s be good ambassadors for Christ. (2Cor 5:20)

We might have all knowledge, and understand all the mysteries of God but if we turn people away by our Christian pride or condescending attitude, what good is it? 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter puts it all in perspective. Let’s turn there.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)

 ¹ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

We are to love others despite how they act. It is not up to us to judge them. (Matt7:1-2) That Day of Judgment rapidly approaches. Though others trample on the truth of God or even mistreat us without cause, let’s remember our Lord’s response to worse treatment than we have ever experienced.

Luke chapter 23, verse 34

This was after Jesus was rejected and scourged beyond recognition. After all they had done to him, what was His response

Luke 23:34 King James Version (KJV)

³⁴ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

 

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Video  - http://livestre.am/17UYo

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Earnestly Contending for the Faith Once Delivered to the Saints

Richard Rives, the author of Too Long in the Sun and Time is the Ally of Deceit, gives Just the Facts of Biblical Christianity in 3-minute insightful video clips.

Richard Rives site has moved to - http://www.wnd.com/author/richardrives/





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Christ was never in Christmas in the first place! What?!

Many Christians have celebrated Christmas since they were children and the rich traditions live on and are anticipated as a time of togetherness, family warmth, and all around good cheer. Many have come to love the change of heart displayed by many people toward their fellow man as they are imbued with the "Christmas spirit".

Others, however, have become disillusioned with the crass commercialism, greed and drunken revelry that is rife during this season. The hustle bustle of running to and fro purchasing just the right gifts, decorating and preparing the home for the little ones too often is met with a post-Christmas crash like coming off a sugar high.

That gift that seemed so special at the time of purchase and was maybe just a little more expensive than planned but purchased anyway "because, well, it's Christmas", was greeted with a hearty, "Gee thanks", and set aside in favor of some other plastic pleasure. What Christmas has become is not what many of us remember from our youth. Maybe there's a reason for that. Maybe as we've become the adults that have to pay the credit card bill in January we're experiencing the same disheartening disenchantment our parents experienced but never expressed. Maybe Christmas isn't what we thought it was at all.

I won't bother delineating all the structured arguments about the pagan Saturnalia or Mithraic origins of this holiday or about how Christ really isn't the reason for the season. Most of you don't want to hear it anyway and if you really wanted to know you could research it for yourself. You might suspect though, deep down that there's truth here. Maybe you don't want to delve into it because it might cause you to be faced with an unpopular decision. After all, isn't it for the children anyway? What does it really matter as long as our heart's in the right place? As long as we 'say' we're honoring Jesus, isn't that what really counts?

Let me ask you a question. If you 'say' you love and honor your wife but your actions prove otherwise, do you think she still believes you? If you 'say' you love and honor Christ but your actions follow pagan rituals, do you think He still believes you?

I suspect most of you have heard enough and will click over to something more interesting or something more in keeping with your traditions and that's fine. But if you've ever wondered why you still have that empty feeling inside after all the hype and fervor are over, here are a few resources that present a different view of Christmas and why thousands of Christians don't celebrate it.
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The Top 10 Reasons Why I Don't Celebrate ChristmasThe Real Nativity Story: Surprising Truths You May Not Know!
Holidays or Holy Days - Does It Matter Which Days We Observe?
Christmas: The Untold Story
Christians Who Don't Celebrate Christmas: Here's Why
Christmas Before Christ: The Surprising Truth!Christmas: The Curious Origins of a Popular Holiday
Christmas: The Greatest Story NEVER Told


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