“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
Dear Ones:
Why are these words from the Lord Jesus so very important? Perhaps it would be good to answer this question by making the distinction between “facts” and “truth.” “Facts” are truth, from an objective standpoint, for they tell us the reality of the principles and laws of creation, and the real world. However, though facts can change the direction of one’s life, they are still “declarations” of what is true in creation, with no power in and of themselves. They are somewhat like the LAW of the Old Testament, a revelation of God, and the nature of man, but not possessing in and of itself the POWER to change, to change lives. Jesus makes the distinction very clear when He speaks of “truth” as being, “…My word.” (Jn. 8:31) That which is so very essential to see, and to realize, with regard to the “truth,” the word of Christ, is that the Son is the power of it. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (v.36) There is POWER in the words of Christ, for there is the commitment of Christ as God to work according to that word. This “word of Christ” is a living word by virtue of the fact that He is the Author of it, and the One who will realize it. How does the knowledge of this relationship of “truth” with “facts,” affect us? What repercussions can it have in our lives?
First, we need to see that in the context in which we live, we are in a conflict, a spiritual one. At the center of this conflict is the battle for truth, the proclamation of it, and faith in God according to it. In the Garden of Eden, when the serpent tempted Eve, he did so by “refuting” God, declaring in essence that God was a liar. “Hath God said…,” “…ye shall not surely die.” (Gen. 3:1,4) Eve was then confronted by the “truth” given to her by the word of the Lord, or yielding to the contradiction to the truth, the lie of Satan. She chose the lie, and its consequence, death. Our enemy has not changed, nor has the importance of knowing and abiding by the truth. True faith is ONLY manifested, and exercised, when it is according to the truth…the truth of the word of God.
Secondly, we need to see the corresponding POWER of the truth. As there are terrible consequences in believing the lies of Satan, and embracing the speculation, philosophies, and even religions of the world, which are a contradiction to God, so there is a most extraordinary power in believing God according to the truth. The Lord Jesus speaks of the very real intervention in the life when He declares, that the Son sets us free indeed. We must ask the question, “Free from what?” First of all, this “liberty,” the knowledge of the truth sets the prisoner free from sin and death. Christ came to give us freedom from the dominion, rule, and tyranny of sin, that independent and rebellious attitude towards God which only results in the downward descent to destruction. “Sin” is a robber of life, a crusher of the soul. The knowledge of Christ as our sin-bearer, and our overcoming power by the Spirit, is true liberty. Secondly, the truth sets us free from Satan himself. The knowledge of Christ as the One who has overcome “…all the power of the enemy,” is the basis for us to believe Him for complete victory over His enemy, and ours. We are therefore, more than conquerors through Him who loved us. And lastly, the truth informs us of our victory over this world, this ungodly system of man-made devices to control and imprison. Jesus would declare to us, “I have overcome the world.” All that was of culture, both religious and secular, that was in opposition to Christ, He overcame, not to be the prisoner of it at all. Christ was the freest person that ever lived, because He was filled, and led by the Spirit of the Father. He was free to worship, love, and serve in the most knowledgeable and honorable manner. He was free to go about doing good, always, not only bringing heaven down to earth, but putting heaven by the Spirit into the hearts of those who believed.
Dear Father, give us Thy perspective of the value and power of the truth. Give us grace to choose to live according to truth, refusing and rejecting all lies. Lord Jesus, be our power and strength, according to the truth, enabling us to rise up, live by Thy victorious life, living free, breathing Thy clean air of joyous victory and life. Anoint our lips to proclaim Thy truth, and to live it. We praise and thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad