Based on “Under HIS Influence – REALLY!!!” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 10/10-11/09,
Message #MB392; Daily Devotional #6 - “Absolute Truth”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:5-9) Only in God do we find absolute Truth and Light. I have heard that only about 6% of today's college students believe that there even is absolute truth. So much for that stupid gravity theory and that whole "we need oxygen to live" nonsense! Yet, through His creation and Word, God has provided the natural to confirm the supernatural. Only a supernatural being could have created our planet and every living creature that lives on it. If He says that we were created from the dust of the earth, and that the planet was spoken into existence by the words of His mouth, then that is Truth. Besides, that's much easier to believe than a random atom exploding in the atmosphere and evolving into life! Who can enjoy a beautiful sunset or a magnificent mountain range or walk along the beach, without admitting that Someone greater than ourselves created it? Even though God's Truths are sometimes difficult to understand, they are no less true. And just because we don't believe them, we should never make up our own truth to counter God's Word. As Christians, we have been blessed with the Light, and we should never let the darkness of man’s lies invade our Truth, no matter how logical or holy it sounds!
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): One of the greatest lies that has invaded God's Truths is that we can manipulate God’s favor by our actions and provoke Him to love us more through our works. These verses in 1 John counter that lie by saying, "and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." It is the blood of Jesus Christ, and not the grand acts of our flesh, that causes God to erase our sin! If we think that all of our good acts will outweigh our transgressions, then we have believed the lie of the enemy and are deceived! Granted, faith without works is dead, but faith and devotion must motivate our works, or they are in vain! Sadly, it is difficult for unbelievers, and some Christians, to rest in the cleansing blood of Calvary and enjoy God's grace. But the forgiveness of sin only through the blood of Jesus Christ is another one of God's absolute Truths and has been given to the world as a Gift. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Another absolute Truth is that if we are speaking words of Life, then we will be identified with Christ, but if we are associating with darkness, then we are identifying with our enemy and speaking words of death. And, trust me, God knows the difference! We may be able to fool some of the people some of the time, but we will never be able to fool God! He knows, better than we do, that the "dark side" holds death and destruction, and that the Kingdom of Light promises abundant Life everlasting. Thus His stern warnings to wandering sheep! Hopefully, it will only take just one good thump of the Shepherd’s rod, to send us scrambling back to our own pasture and into the flock of our loving fold. But sadly, many of us have believed the lies and have been used and abused by evil shepherds, and have come back home in need of restoration and healing. And some of us are even too ashamed to come back home at all! But the best part is that it's never too late to come back into His pastures. If we find ourselves in sin, we simply confess our sins, and He will forgive us, again and again. He will personally take the time to heal your wounded heart and restore your soul! Because that's the only kind of Shepherd He knows how to be! And that’s the Truth!
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Proverbs 28:13; Proverbs 5:21
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