January 12 – Absolute Truth

        John 14:6 – "Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

        That statement is the most exclusive statement that any religious figure could ever make. C.S. Lewis said that there are three possible conclusions from this statement: 1) that Jesus was lying; 2) that Jesus was a lunatic; or 3) that Jesus was truthful, and therefore, he really was the Son of God – the 2^nd person of the Triune God in the flesh. If Jesus was truthful, then Christianity is a very exclusive belief system. Thirty years after Jesus ascended into Heaven, the apostle Paul makes another bold statement about the story of Jesus. Galatians 1:8 – "Even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim a gospel other than the one we proclaimed to you, let him be eternally condemned!"

        From these verses and others, is where we get the idea that the Bible is God's recording of manifested truth for all of mankind – absolute truth. Even though God chose a timeline of hundreds of years to reveal more and more of himself, there always existed an absolute truth – one for all people, at all times of history, in every place on the earth. Jesus became the ultimate revelation of God himself and the final word in the unfolding of God's truth to mankind (Hebrews 1:2,3; Romans 16:25f).

        This sets Christianity apart from Hinduism and Buddhism, which would perhaps be inclusive of some Christian beliefs. Islam claims a direct revelation of God to Mohammed, some 500+ years after Jesus lived on the earth. Jesus, in Islam, is relegated as just a prophet, not God in the flesh. And Islam would certainly not agree with our opening scripture. Therefore, Christianity is at odds with Islam, also. Add into the mix, the myriad of other religions not followed by a billion people, as the other big three are. All would be at odds with our beginning scripture. Absolute truth has to be this way, or it would not be absolute, and therefore not truthful or trustworthy at all. It would be arbitrary at worst, as in all the minor belief systems that just make up their own doctrine, or hopeless and uncertain, at best, of a happy future, as in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Only Christianity brings the free grace of God, the free gift of salvation, for anyone who would understand it and take it.

        There can only be one belief system that is true in this world for everyone, everywhere, at all times. It has to be exclusive to have any validity of claim to truth. If it is not exclusive, it is worthless to put one's trust in, as eternal truth.

October 14 – The Ultimate Living Epitaph

        Psalm 73:26 – "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and he is my portion [in life] forever."

        Yesterday's (Oct 13) thoughts about Psalm 73 took a general view about the entire Psalm. Today's thoughts focus on verses 23-26. They are contrasted against verses 21 & 22: "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a brute beast before you." Do you get angry, frustrated, even cynical with the circumstances surrounding you – the situations that seemingly will not resolve themselves? A change of attitude and thinking is then necessary.

        A bold declaration is needed in the midst of ongoing trials. Let's start with verse 23: "Yet I am always with you [God]; you hold me by my right hand." This promise is re-iterated by Jesus in John 10:27-29: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My father, who has given them to me is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my father's hand." And, as if two persons safeguarding my life were not enough, triple protection is found in Eph. 1:13, 14: "You also were included in Christ, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession....." What a promise!

        Verse 24: "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward, you will take me into glory." This is affirmed by Jesus in John 14:26: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Earlier in John 14, Jesus states (vv. 2,3): "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you otherwise. I am going there to prepare a place for you; therefore, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." This is the promise of an eternal home with God.

        Verse 25: "Whom have I in heaven, except you [God]? Earth has nothing I desire besides you." Peter re-iterates this thought in John 6:67-69: "Jesus asked the Twelve, 'You do not want to leave me, too, do you?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.' "     

        Finally, the best faith statement declaration of all comes in verse 26: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of of my heart and he is my portion forever." If I live to old age, then surely my flesh and heart will fail, My body will run down, but God will be there to give me strength, both physical and spiritual, encouraging me to praise him to the end, knowing that soon, I will be with him in bliss. No matter how bleak your life looks at this moment, take courage from these verses, and press on in God's strength.

        There was a popular praise song in the early 2000's called "Lord, (I Don't Know)" that had the same rock-solid faith sentiment in its chorus. (The Newsboys were one band that played it well.) The words are: "Lord, I don't know where all this is going, or how it all works out. Lead me to peace that is past understanding, a peace beyond all doubt." May God use these verses from Psalm 73 to lead us to a peace in our hearts that is beyond our doubts.