Influencers Weekly Devotional

To Seek, Know, Live and Share Truth by

Rocky Fleming

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” ... John 18:37-28

Getting a true answer to things now days is hard to find. Being the age I am, I've seen truth become rare in politics, in government, in the marketplace, and even in some churches. It starts early in our children's lives, and by the time they reach adulthood these kids take what they've learned to the place where they live and work. It might explain why we have so many broken promises in their marriage, to their employers and employees, to their voters, and to their congregations. Truth is becoming a rare commodity. I've watched a change in public education and in the American marketplace over the last several years, both in grade schools, the universities in America, and most sectors of business. I've watched children and young adults and businesses be exposed to and recruited to a philosophy that teaches there are no moral absolutes. These professors and their current philosophy taught in public schools says to students that truth is negotiable, and real truth is only a perceived reality in the eyes of the beholder, and is what one wants it to be. These children and young adults are then graduated into the workplace, schools, and every place they work in, and then live out the philosophy they've seen and been taught. Among other issues of this philosophy of “enlightenment,” these graduates are given very few standards for correct and even legal behavior, and personal integrity goes out the window, for there is no accountability to truth. These young adults have no North-star for navigating their life choices, and little wonder we see so many shipwrecks in life because of it. As Dr. Phil would ask, “How's that working out for you?” Take a look at the condition of families, of free enterprise, of national productivity, of our Government, and the Church in America for an answer as to how it is working out. The picture is dismal. When did this philosophy of no absolute truth start? Well it didn't start with the latter day philosophers who espouse it today. They might like to think they are original thinkers, and have an enlightenment that the old folks don't have. But, what they are following is nothing new. Take a look in Genesis at the serpent in the Garden of Eden with how he challenged Adam and Eve with the same philosophy we hear today that God's truth is not really truth. This lie starts with Satan himself. These philosophers would also have to compete with Pilate, for he asked the same question of Jesus when he asked, “What is truth?” The truth is, this question cannot be answered by a philosophy that is dangled around to confuse people. It cannot be found except by one who is a true seeker of the Truth. This is where theory and rhetoric are left in the classroom, and a personal life journey to find truth begins. I've seen very few of these “philosophers” who want to know real truth, for they are not open to finding it. Why not? If they did, they would have to compromise their position. It would complicate their simple and self-serving philosophy of, “What the heck. If it feels good, just do it.” What I have discovered is that these “enlightened” people are not enlightened at all. They are closed minded, and they couldn't identify truth if it hit them between the eyes. But, they are the ones who are reshaping the perception of what truth is in the minds of our children, and it must be the work of the Church to bring the truth back to them. There are moral absolutes and there is real truth to be found. But the question begs to be asked, “How will their eyes be opened?” We are seeing a perpetuating lie reproducing itself in the people in our Country and they need to know the truth, for the philosophy they are getting is wreaking havoc in their lives, and in this Country. Back to the scripture above, Jesus told Pilate that He came to bear witness to the truth. So it is evident that through Jesus we can find truth, right? But Jesus also said only those of the truth hear His voice, and we already know that He is the way, the truth, and the life. So, it is beginning to look more and more like the crowd is thinning out with whom the message of real truth is given and shared. It points out that those of the Truth, and those who know Truth personallywill have to be the purveyors of truth. Therefore, this sacred responsibility falls on those of us who have embraced Jesus into our lives, and live by His precepts. But, we have allowed the empty philosophies of those who do not know Christ to influence our land, and it is time that we spread the Truththat they do not know. This is where the Church must seize the moment. As I write this devotional, we are one day before the election results are announced. When this devotional comes out, it will be after the choices are made. I could wait and connect my thoughts with those people elected. But, whoever is elected, the responsibility of the Church in America is the same, and my exhortation would likewise be the same. As God's Church, we are given the responsibility to share the Truth. The Church is God's voice to stand against the voice of Satan, and make no mistake in thinking we are talking about a latter day enlightenment that has been invented lately, and it is this we are battling against. No, this thing has been around since time began. Ask Adam and Eve, and every person since who has had to engage in a spiritual battle with telling the truth, and living it. Over the last few months, we've talked a lot about praying for our Nation. Thousands of people turned out to pray across the Country. Some may even see their candidate elected, and will feel they've received an answer to their prayers. But, here is a truth we need to understand. The problems in this Country will not be corrected at the polls. The problems will be corrected only by Truth being embraced, and this is where the Church comes in. We must play our part in creating change in our land by sharing Truth. When we asked God to heal our land, which was Influencers campaign last week, we must now accept that we will be used to answer that prayer. The Church will be an essential part of the healing of our land, and we must do our part. Therefore, let's not stop our prayers for our land just because the elections are over. Let's also take the next essential step toward bringing healing to our land. Let's make sure that we, the Church, seek Truth (Jesus) with all our heart. Let's get to know Truth betterby abiding in an intimate relationship with Jesus. Let's live Truth by allowing what Jesus teaches to guide us, for this is what a disciple does. Let's share Truth, for this is the instruction Jesus gives us in the Great Commission. Then, we will see healing in our land. To all my brothers and sisters in Christ, I exhort you and say that just one sold out person for Christ can make a big difference in his or her world. So you make sure you do your part. But, just imagine what could happen to our land, and even the world, if the millions of people who make up the Church in America were to sell out to Him and each do their part? Why, I think it would be like waking up a sleeping giant … and then Truth will be found in our land. Let's join together and pray for this awakening. Download file