Truthing It in Love*

Today is Valentine's Day. The Catholic Church identifies St. Valentine as one who was martyred for his faith. This day is associated with love. One of the greatest expressions of love is the truth of the Gospel. In Ephesians Ch. 4, the apostle Paul beseeches the Church to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called". Gifts have been given to the Church, he wrote: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, who have been given by God in order to bring the Church into perfection for the work of the ministry, for edifying the Body, until we come into the unity of the faith, into the knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, and "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ". (Eph. 4:11-13). We cannot grow up into the Head of all things, which is Christ, without speaking the truth in love (v. 15). We ourselves must hear and speak the truth to each other, and to all. All have sinned, and if we love, then we must tell them about the Salvation from sin and death that has been made available to all men, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Love is at the center of the Gospel of Christ. 1 John tells us that if we do not love, then we do not know God. God is not in us. He brings us this revelation: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him...My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed, and in truth." (1 Jn. 3:14-15,18). This is how we know that we are of the truth (v. 19). In the same way that those who are of God love with truth, those who are not of God do not love the truth. They deceive others and are deceived themselves by lies. The evil one coming, who is called the antichrist, is the lie become flesh. He will be revealed before the return of Christ, after there is a falling away from the faith first (2 Thess. 2:3). This wicked one "whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a (the) lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2:9-12). In Proverbs, the LORD describes six things that He hates, and seven that He considers an abomination: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren (Prov. 6:16-19). Lying in all its forms is something God hates. In Revelation, as the heavenly city of New Jerusalem descends to earth, it is a place of beauty and holiness. Those who enter it will enter into a presence of peace, life, and comfort (Rev. 21:1-5). As Jesus was describing this beautiful New Jerusalem, He promised John, "...these words are true and faithful." However, not all will enter into that city. Jesus said, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second deth." (v. 7-8). Liars, all liars, are listed among these evil doers. Truth is not just a characteristic, but a Person. The One who IS truth is Jesus Christ. Jesus promised His disciples that He would go to prepare a place for them, and then come again and receive them to Himself (Jn. 14:1-4). He told them that they knew the way to where He was going. One of the disciples told Jesus that he did not know the way, and jesus responded, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (v. 6). We can't come to the Father without the Truth, the Person who is truth. The prophets identified Him, and John the Baptist identified Him: the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. The way of truth has to be chosen: "I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me." (Ps. 119:30). Have you chosen to truth it in love? *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 2/14/21 message to the Church. To contact: Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com, or PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705. Look for us on Facebook, and Twitter, and endtimesschool.com