What Will You Do With the Truth?
by Dennis Strickland
Down through the years, there has been a lot of discussion regarding truth. Some have questioned what truth is, as Pilate did in John 18:38. In Mark 12:32, the scribe stated the truth, yet we have no record that this man ever obeyed the gospel. He believed, as did the devils in James 2:19, yet there is no indication that he even trembled. Some, per II Timothy 4:4, will “turn their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Some are even like the folks described in Romans 1:21-25, who, because they refused to glorify God, were unthankful, embraced vain imaginations, and allowed their heart to become darkened. As a result, they even changed the truth of God into a lie. All sorts of vile activities followed as a result.
Romans 2:8-9 reveals that tribulation and anguish await all who are evil, contentious, and disobedient. From II Thessalonians 2:10, it is apparent that all who receive not the love of the truth will “perish” and if this is not concise enough, II Thessalonians 2:12 tells us: “that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” II Thessalonians 1:7-9 tells us when this will happen, how, and for how long this will be. Those who hate the truth and refuse to obey it will know the vengeance of God as they are sentenced to eternity in Hell.
This is why it is so important to “preach the Word,” as the Spirit instructed Timothy to do in II Timothy 4:2. It is why I Peter 4:11 dictates that the preacher speak “as the oracles of God.” It is also why Timothy was charged to take what Paul had preached and “the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” in II Timothy 2:2. This way, the truth will continue to be proclaimed and hopefully, future generations will also hear the truth and can be made free. Jesus, in John 8:31-32, said: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Additionally, in John 17:17, as Jesus prayed for His apostles, He asked the Father to “set them apart” by truth, and then identified for all what is the only truth. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Christ also, in John 6:33, said: "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." This “life” of which the Savior spoke is eternal life. It is only available to those who are in full accordance with God’s Word. This is why God’s faithful today will “preach the Word”, which is the truth. Souls are at stake. Only the gospel, per Romans 1:16, is the “power of God unto salvation.” It must be taught, believed, obeyed, and continually followed to be effective in our lives.
Below is a song by my wife’s father, O.D. Wilson. He wrote it in the early 1980s. I am unsure of the tune, but the words certainly apply.
Preach the Word
by O.D. Wilson – deceased
I have some things to ask, I’m sure that you don’t mind,
About so many churches, religions of all kinds,
It really makes me sad to see them so deceived,
And, risk it ‘til the Judgment, and do not yet believe.
They do not want to say, One church alone is right,
As narrow-minded people have not yet seen the light.
They concentrate on love, from human creeds implore.
But will you let them enter, Up Yonder ever more?
Their preachers tell how far, one day, they were in sin,
A substituted message, but will it bring one in?
The gospel is the power, for nothing else will do.
It saves all who obey it, the bad and ‘good ones’ too.
And Lord, what do you do when sinners come to pray?
In every testimonial, they say you saved that way.
But that’s not in Your Book, I read it just today,
In it, You plainly say Lord, a sinner needn’t pray.
Now Lord, I know You laugh, but then I know You cry,
How do you sit and listen to those who make You lie?
They seem to think You’re gone, no way You can defend.
But Lord, You’ll have the “last Word”, Gehenna enter in.
Preach the Word, Holy Word,
There is peace and saving power in the Word.
In it, God has had His say. It shall be our judge that day!
To be saved, we must obey it, preach the Word!
Why will you not look into God’s Holy Word, the truth, and see what God says to do to be saved, and to be pleasing to Him? Why would anyone who says they love God not do His Will and seek to serve Him as He directs in His Word? We are told in II Peter 1:3 that we have “all things that pertain to life and godliness.” The directions are plain, the warnings clear, the promises grand.
