April 16, 2008
In most houses there is
a place, which is the catchall for the unwanted and unused items in a house. In
my case it’s the garage. The garage became the catchall storage place for
things that didn't have any place else to go. Since then, things have just
accumulated until the garage became the abyss of unwanted things and was nothing
short of a dreadful mess.
The worse it got, the less
likely I was to put things away. Things were jut tossed into the garage because
I did not want to have to deal with the mess.
Today I decided to tackle the
garage!
One of the things that amazed
me, while I was cleaning, was the state of the various cords.
I had computer cords, electrical cords, phone cords and extension cords.
I had memories of Christmas past where hours were spent untangling cords. All
the cords, which I thought I had put away carefully, now seem to be in a tangled
and twisted mess in the boxes where they were.
It took some time to get each
of them sorted out and put away properly.
Extension cords aren't the
only things that get twisted out of shape. Often the word of God gets so twisted
that the truth is lost. Let me give you a few examples. Satan knows how to use
half-truths and twisted truths. He throws just enough Scripture and truth into
the equation to lead us away from the whole truth and picture.
Let me give you a few
examples of twisted truths.
God's patience with us is
often twisted by people into a belief that they can get away with anything and
God won’t care. Sometimes His patience with people is taken as a sign that He
doesn't exist. The very opposite is true. He's patient so that we might have a
chance for redemption.
Here is a
trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was
shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his
unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive
eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be
honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:15-17 NIV
The need for Christians to do
good works is often twisted to mean that we must earn our salvation. Nothing
could be farther from the truth; we are saved partly so we can do the works. The
works NEVER provide salvation.
For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
The fact that God is love is
often twisted to avoid the truth that God is also holy and righteous and there
is such a thing as the wrath of God. Yes God is love
And so we know
and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. 1 John 4:16a
but, we also need to remember
that
It is a
dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 NIV
God's grace and forgiveness
is often twisted and perverted into a license to sin. Paul warns us about that
very error.
The law was
added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace
increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace
might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may
increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans
5:20-6:2 NIV
The fact that God paid the
price for our sin is often perverted and twisted to declare that there is no
cost to his salvation. Salvation is free for the asking, but it isn't cheap.
Then he said
to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take
up his cross daily and follow me Luke 9:23 NIV
The best way to avoid these
common twistings of God and his character is to learn the whole council of God.
Read the Word, all of it not just the bits you like or the parts that are easy
to understand.
To the Jews
who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are
really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free." John 8:31-32 NIV
Until next time, if you've
been living under twisted truth (and twisted truth is really a lie) may the Holy
Spirit reveal the truth to you through the word or through others.
Remember truth may not always
have a feeling of love, but it is the truth nonetheless and thus in itself it is
love!
Be
blessed.
Darrel
Mason