The Preacher sought
to find acceptable words;
And what was written
was upright––words of truth.
The words of he wise
are like goads, and the words
Of scholars are like
will–driven nails, given by one Shepherd.
And further, my son,
be admonished by these. Of making
Many books there is
no end, and much study is wearisome
To the flesh.
Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His
commandments,
For this is man’s
all.
For God will bring
every work into judgment,
Including every
secret thing,
Whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:10–14
(cf. Matthew 12:36)
How correct
was the writer of Ecclesiastes as it is wearisome to study so that one can find
the truth. It is toilsome, and at times seemingly unnecessary; but is it? Did
the writer of Ecclesiastes tell us not to study? No! But we are forewarned that
it difficult. The writer of this wonderful book gives this in the beginning: “For
in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow”
(Ecclesiastes 1:18). Yes, this is so true for as knowledge increases there
is a sadness due to the content of what is learned; man has devised a god(s)
for himself and not of the true and Holy God Jehovah. Or man has devised a god
even to use the name Jehovah but only in a sense of religiosity that decries
the truth. It is sorrowful when we come to recognize falsity and how that
falsity has invaded and perverted the truth leading men and women away from
being Authentic Christians. Knowing the truth will set us free, we are to search
for the truth as we must do in a world that has made for themselves god(s) and
have taught religions, even using the name of our Savior Jesus Christ: “Let
us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD” (Lamentations
3:40). God does not approve of such religions as they subvert His cause and
purpose leading men and women from him into error: “To turn aside the
justice due a man before the face of the Most High, or subvert a man in his
cause––the Lord does not approve” (Lamentations 3:35–36). What do we have
to fear in our search for the truth? Man has and does in the name of their
religion many abhorrent things; i.e., the Chinese “sunning” babies, or those in
this day commit abortion, The Muslim’s killing those who oppose them, religious
wars that have been perpetrated on men from the beginning of the world after
the Great Flood, and even to wars of ideology that have as their foundation
some form of religion. God is not blind and He does not sit far away allowing
things to just happen, this is His world and He is the controller of all things
and we can plead to Him our cause: “I called on Your name O LORD, from the
lowest pit. You have heard my voice: ‘Do not hide Your ear from my sighing,
from my cry for help.’ You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, ‘Do
not fear!’”(Lamentations 3:55–57). Yes, it is fearful to learn the truth
because we are then responsible for the truth and it is how we apply that truth
in our lives, whether we are pleasing God or displeasing Him. This is important
as I have been making an attempt to show how we have in many cases traveled a
far distance from our God and Savior to a world that, while claiming to be
“Christian” have swallowed the teaching of those major philosophers from the
past and have added much more to those philosophies. We must know the truth if
we are to worship God in truth and spirit: “You worship what you do not
know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is
coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit
and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and
those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:22–24).
Jesus was speaking to the woman at the well, a Samaritan women who believed
that she was worshipping God correctly, but Jesus pointed out to her that she
was not worshipping God in a manner that was truthful. Yes, Jesus came to earth
by means of God’s people, the Jews for by Him salvation was made possible. Her
worship was false, and Jesus makes it plain and clear, we all are to worship
Him in truth and spirit and to do so we must, after all these years of men
devising all forms of religion find the truth. The question for each of us is:
“Will we change if we find that what we have come to believe is the truth and
now see the falsity of such belief, change?”
Next week I
will again make an attempt to show how the ancient world affected our present
age. Once the problem is defined then the solution is at hand. Or, maybe you
don’t think there is a problem: is that so? Are you willing to accept any
religion? Are we to be ecumenical in our approach to worship God? Is
multi–culturalism accepted as the way to worship God in spirit and truth? What
are you willing to accept? Truth or lies? Is this serious? Yes! Our decisions
will not be decisions only for us, rather they will affect our children, and
their children, as did the ancient philosophies have affected us these many
years removed from their original writings and teachings.
The Sabbath
is coming! What are your plans to worship our God? Have you set aside this day
for Him? What or who has your priority? I pray that for those who must work,
i.e., doctors, nurses, firemen, policemen, and those in the military, that they
will set aside time when they are not working for God. As for the rest of us,
we call ourselves Christian, therefore we must then worship our God in spirit
and truth and follow His command; to keep the Sabbath, the seventh day, and for
Christians, it is the first day of the week, holy, and spend time with family,
friends, and especially to be gathered together, the ekklesia, to love and to
fellowship with other Christians, and event those who may attend seeking the
truth. May God bless you.
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance,
Being predestinated
according to the
Purpose of Him who works all things according
To the
counsel of His will, that we who
First trusted in Christ should be to the praise of
His glory.
Ephesians 1:11–12
Meditate on His Word; There Truth Is To Be Found’
Richard L. Crumb
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