I’m reading 2 Timothy in my daily time with God. It’s a book of practicalities, where Paul told Timothy how he (and thus we) are to live, think and act. In chapter 2 verses 19-26, Paul discusses practical righteousness, giving the foundation and the “how to” of it. He sums it up in vs. 25-26: “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
The truth is the all-important element that we use to guide our lives and that we try to communicate to others. It’s what Paul dedicated his life to. He was passing that goal on to Timothy. I think it’s interesting that in the same breath that he talked about getting others to acknowledge the truth, he talked about delivering them from the snare of the devil. It makes sense, because, as you know, there’s no truth in Satan. Everything he speaks is a lie, because he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
I remember 15 to 20 years ago hearing how our next big battle in Christianity was going to be the philosophy that there’s no absolute truth. You wouldn’t be able to say that anything was true for sure. Truth would all be relative… whatever you think is true is what truth is for you.
I thought that was absurd. Thinking, rational people know there is absolute truth. But look now. You’re considered ridiculous if you try to pursuade someone that something in particular is the unqualified truth for everyone, no matter what. We decide for ourselves what is truth now. Even churches. I’ve passed a church that coaxed people in with a sign out front that said “no dogmatism here.” Even parents. Many say they are letting their children decide for themselves what to believe.
Satan has sucked truth out of our culture. So, standing for the truth is unpopular. How do we do it? “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
Jody
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