II CORINTHIANS 13:8: “For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth.” NLT
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OBSERVATION: Am I willing to take a stand for the truth? Am I willing to be unpopular or even rejected by others for the truth? In this day of compromise and diluted values, is my life a light shining on a hill or a light hidden under a bushel?

What is truth?

This is the question that everyone is asking today. In our present-day culture truth is not absolute. Truth is like getting an ice cream cone at Baskin and Robbins. We can create our own truth from an array of different colors, textures, and flavors. Truth is relative only to my feelings.

In today’s culture – truth originates from me.

To see how far our culture has taken this concept one only has to look at science. Science is supposed to deal in absolutes that have been tested and verified. Yet, today, science deals in supposition and political preference. Recently, a professor at a medical college was chastised for saying that only women could bear children. When science ignores the absolutes of life it has ceased being science and is no longer operating in the principle of truth.

Man has been searching for truth from the beginning of time. Most of man’s search has been focused on trying to discover an experience or a philosophy that would bring illumination and help make sense of life. This search has become an endless and unfruitful search because it has been focused in the wrong direction. Truth is not something we acquire.

Truth is a person!

• “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John‬ ‭1:1 NKJV‬‬

Truth is not something that exists within us. Truth is the Word of God. It is the foundation of everything we see and experience. It is God Himself. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God knew that we would never be able to discover the truth on our own. Our sinful nature, the deception of the enemy of our souls, and the brokenness of this world would always lead us astray.

So – the Word, God Himself, the Truth – came to us!

• “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John‬ ‭1:14 ‭NKJV

Jesus came to this world as God in human flesh. The Truth came to us and revealed Himself to us. He called us back to the Father. He showed us the pathway of righteousness. He illuminated the Scriptures. He revealed Truth to all men. And, like today, the majority of people kept looking for truth in the wrong places. Yet, for those who embraced Jesus, they not only found the Truth, they were restored to their eternal destiny and purpose!

• “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John‬ ‭1:10-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus died for the truth!

The Truth was crucified for you and me!

Jesus died on the cross so that we could discover the truth. He died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and we could be restored as children of God. He died on the cross so that our spiritual eyes could be opened and, knowing the truth, we could be set free. The Truth paid it all so that we could walk and live in the truth.

The price for the truth was the blood of Jesus Christ!

Is it any wonder why the Apostle Paul writes in his closing remarks to the Corinthian church – “For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth.” Paul understood the price that Jesus Christ paid so that we could know the truth. To compromise the truth, to dilute it or change it to fit our personal desires, would be paramount to disrespecting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord.

To oppose the truth is to oppose Jesus Christ, the Truth!

This is not a call to legalism. This is a call to consecration and faithfulness. As we watch so many churches embracing falsehood in our day, who will stand for the truth? Who will teach the truth of God’s Word no matter what the cost? Who will lead men and women to the Truth so that they truly can be set free? Who will honor the cross of Jesus Christ and hold the sacrifice of His blood as sacred?

As I ponder these questions I am reminded of Jesus’ own words on the Sermon on the Mount. I believe they are a sovereign and sobering call to me today.

• “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭5:17-20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Who today will stand for the truth?

Lord, let it be me.

In Jesus Name!