To Tell The Truth. ..

Living in the information age has it's problems when it comes to worshiping God. .. At the end of the day, if you are not worshiping God. .. then you are missing the boat. .. you are not in that number. .. you are not on the right side of right. .. He will accept nothing less. .. It's like playing poker with your soul. .. either you are all in, or you will find yourself on the outside looking in. .. You have heard the "excuses". .. it don't take all that. ..or the most deadly thought of all. .. I will do it tomorrow, or next week. .. now if that's not playing Russian roulette with your soul. .. I don't know what is.

There are many things that can keep one away from God. .. and that becomes the question we have to ask ourselves. .. what is that thorn in the flesh that hinders your relationship with God? And what will you do about it. .. Sometimes the most difficult thing we can do in life is to look in the mirror and be honest about what we see. .. It is sort of like the woman who asks her husband if she looks fat in that dress. .. if he is truthful and says "yes". .. there is a possibility that he will get the silent treatment because he just called his wife fat. .. if he lies and says, "no", well. .. he has peace, but his wife is still fat. .. and there is no truth. .. Now watch this. .. peace and the silent treatment can really be the same. .. but it doesn't feel the same. .. I always say . .. you can lie to me. .. but don't lie to yourself.

Look at the book of Jeremiah Chapter 23. .. starting at verse sixteen. .. In this passage God is telling the people not to listen to the prophets. .. why? Could it be that the prophets were not hearing from God. .. and they were lying. .. not only to themselves, but the people of God as well? Jeremiah 23:16-17: Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walks after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

But look at verse twenty-five in the same chapter. .. "I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. .. (Verse 30 - 32). .. Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words everyone from his neighbor. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.

If the prophet is telling you what you want to hear. .. or if you are telling yourself what you think you need to hear to feel good about yourself. .. you are missing God. The prophet who God has called will always be given very clear and specific instructions. Look at Jeremiah 26, verses two through six. Thus said the Lord; Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. ..And thou shall say unto them, Thus said the Lord; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you. ..To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.

Now when Jeremiah had spoken these words. .. the people of this country were ready to kill him. .. but what truth are you willing to tell. .. words that sound good and seem to turn a blind eye to iniquity. .. or words from God that not only address that iniquity. .. but also give a way out. .. And that way out is called repentance. .. Look at Jeremiah chapter 29, verses 11 through 13:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. .. The Truth will set you free. .. and God will surely bless you when you seek and worship him with all your heart.

Amen.