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by Buzz Dahlen What question can you ask a group of people to respond to by raising their hand if the answer is yes, that if not everyone raised their hand you could ask the same question and then everyone would have to raise their hand? I will give you the answer at the end of this article. Jesus said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!” John 8:44 I have read this passage many times and it just came to me what Jesus was saying. Before a person comes to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, before a person gives their life to Christ, before a person is born again, before a person becomes a child of God, they are a child of the devil, who is the father of lies. That’s pretty staggering. Don’t get made at me for pointing out the truth. If you have a different interpretation Let me have it, but I think the scripture is very clear on this. Of course, Jesus says, “I tell the truth.” The devil tells the lies and Jesus tells the truth. Isn’t it amazing how often we choose to believe the lie rather than the truth? In the same conversation Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." If we listen to or hold to what Jesus says, we will know the truth and that truth will set us free. So, we must deduct that if we listen to or hold to what the devil says we will know the lie and that lie will enslave us. Lets go back to John Chapter 8. "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Ask yourself today, “Am I listening to the truth or a lie?” It is an important question especially at this time of year, as we get closer to New Year’s Day. Why, because God gives us an opportunity for a new beginning, a window of decision. Later, John records Jesus as saying, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 I am not sure, but I believe that Jesus said, more then anything else, He says it 78 times in the gospels), “I tell you the truth.” And why not, He is the truth. Do you know the truth? So, what do we do with this? Well it is New Year’s resolution time. What about making a resolution to “walk in the truth.” I am not suggesting that you resolve to tell the truth all the time; I don’t know it that is “humanly possible.” But it is possible to resolve to walk in the truth, to walk in Jesus, which means to give your life to Him. In his third letter John writes: Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Well, the choice is yours, to walk in the truth or to walk in the lie. Jesus, himself invites you to let Him, the truth, come into your life. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelations 3:20 Will you let the truth come into your life? If you do, it will be a New Year like non other. The question is, “How many here have ever lied?” If people didn’t raise their hand to say yes the first time, they would be lying and have to raise their hand the second time… I tell you the truth, I wish for you a Happy New Year! |
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