The New Testament is replete with warnings about teachers of lies and half truths.  Most people have an appreciation for truth because they have come to realize that to make decisions that are based upon non-truths is, at best, an exercise in futility.  But what is truth?  Is there a dependable source of truth?  How can one be sure?  Isn’t the truth about a matter determined by our understanding and acceptance of the facts that define it?  None of these questions are answerable if we make fallible man a part of truth’s definition.  Something is not true just because I, you, or we, believe it.  Truth must be established and measured by something more constant, more knowledgable, more vast than the greatest of feeble minded men.

  Thankfully, there is a source of truth that has stood the test of time.  Jesus prayed for His disciples, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)”  The Bible is the repository of facts that were delivered to man over a period of 1600 years by his creator God—the God of Truth:  “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment (just, right): a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)”  “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (Exodus 34:6)”  Titus 1:2 calls Him God “who cannot lie.”

  Everything that God predicted would happen up to this point in the story of time, has happened precisely.  Everything that God has prescribed for the betterment of life on earth has been proven true and efficacious to those who have embraced them, since time began.  Everything that God has forbidden or condemned has proven itself detrimental and destructive to individuals, churches and governments.  Every warning that He has issued has proven itself worthy of acceptance.  Ours is a God of TRUTH—all truth.

  But, “…there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:1–2)”

  Years ago I had two similar experiences that revealed an interesting human nature device.  I was visiting at the home of my boss who lived at the end of a runway at an international airport.  When the planes took off, the sound was deafening.  I was standing in the yard talking to the boss’ son, who was also an employee, when a large plane flew, tree top level, right over the house.  My friend, who was explaining something to me, simply paused in mid-sentence until the plane had passed and then finished his sentence.  When I asked if his family did that all the time, he asked, “Do what all the time?”  As it turned out, he didn’t realize that a plane had flown over, or that he had stopped talking until it had passed.  A few years later I had a similar experience with a friend who lived just a few yards from a busy train track.  In both cases, those who lived so close to the boisterous interruptions had learned not to notice, and to inadvertently pause their communication until the noise had subsided.

  It seems apparent to me that, in the spiritual realm, we have developed a harmful variation of this same human propensity to block out a distraction to such a degree that we are unaware of its presence and our rote response to it.  So often I find myself involved in the lives of others who are experiencing some speed bumps on the road of life—some real distractions.  Their distraught minds seem paralyzed by the hardship and they become spiritually limp and silent until it passes.  To me the cause often seems obvious, and the resolve so simple, but they have blocked out God and overlooked His solution—a piece of life passes them by.

  We need to be reminded, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Ps 46:1)”  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19).”  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)”  “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)”  “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)”

  In the book of Romans, Paul, the Apostle of Jesus, presents the gospel (good news) of God.  This gospel is the means by which mankind can be saved from the penalty of sin.  In chapter one, it was necessary for Paul to establish the fact that the whole world (all people) are guilty before God.  In the beginning, at the creation and for some time after, everybody knew of God, but in time, He was forgotten of them.  Here is how it happened:

  21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:21–32)

  Sadly, our “one nation under God” is embracing these same abominations.

  Which direction (up, down, left or right) would you say best represents help in time of need?  Which direction would you say best defines the position of authority?  In which direction would you most often flee for safety?  Though there are obvious exceptions, “Up” seems to be the most common answer to these questions.  e.g. Babies look up to their mother; children to their parents; management generally occupies the upper floors of corporate headquarters; we flee upward to avoid many natural and catastrophic events …and then there is God.  If asked to point in the direction of God, most people would lift their index finger upward, toward heaven.

  Often, among those who know God personally, you will hear the admonition to “Look Up!” or “Keep Looking Up!”  These simple phrases serve as reminders that God is sovereign, that He is in control, that He has a plan that cannot be thwarted, that He loves His own.  He is the only one who can “do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think… (Ephesians 3:20)  He is the sustainer of the universe, “upholding all things by the word of His power… (Hebrews 1:3)”  

  But the God of the Bible would also remind us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8–9)”  This reminder is necessary for those who might deem themselves God’s prize, who have embraced the twisted notion that He is the Bible version of a genie in a bottle, and believe that their desire should be His beckoning call.

  But God, who is sovereign, created man with a free will.  A vital part of His plan is to allow man to live with many of the consequences of his choices.  Sin and death were the result—and separation from God.  But God devised a way whereby sinful man could be reconciled to Himself by faith in the advocacy of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Those who believe are privileged to see things from God’s perspective, …if they will simply Look Up!

 The Bible tells the story of Jesus: who He is, what He did on earth, and what He is doing now.  Not so many years ago, most people could talk about Jesus with some degree of accuracy, but today many, and perhaps most, don’t have a clue.  It took generations to spread the good news about Jesus; it has taken only one generation for most families to forget who He is, and what He has done.  Jesus is God in the flesh. He came to earth to be a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.  He was executed outside of Jerusalem.  He was buried, and rose from the dead in three days.  He gave His live to pay the penalty for our sin.  Forty days later He ascended back to heaven where He lives to make His promises good to those who place their trust in Him.  All who accept His forgiveness are adopted into the family of God.  

  Perhaps you believe that this story sounds unbelievable, but you would be wise to consider the fact that Jesus is God and all things are possible with Him.  What you do with Jesus determines your relationship with God both now and forever!  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)”

  The Christmas story contains a number of examples of how people reacted to the the news of Jesus birth:  In Luke 2:8-20, the shepherds sought Jesus because they believed Him to be the promised Savior, Messiah and Lord.  In Matthew 2:1-12, the wise men sought Jesus because they knew that He was the King of kings and Lord of lords, and they wanted to Worship Him.  In Matthew 2:3-13, King Herod the Great sought Jesus to kill Him to preserve his own wicked reign and protect his dynasty.

  Today, reactions are quite similar:  Many would eliminate the name of Jesus from society because they stand for everything that He stood against.  Relatively few seek Jesus because they believe Him to be the Savior of the world—the only hope for mankind to be reconciled to God.  Among believers, there are fewer still who worship Him in the beauty of holiness, because He alone is worthy.  But the question of the day is, What will you do with Jesus?