| The Grapevine August 25, 2002 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15 Stand For Truth by Jack Northart Sometimes the tide of popular opinion holds more sway and authority over a person's judgement than any amount of truth or logic ever could. In fact, a big rising profession in our day and time is the organization of the Opinion Poll. "USA Today says," "A CNN Poll says," "J.D. Powers & Associates says;" all of these are common buzz words in the media today. These cesspools of public opinion are looked upon and lauded to the sky by many and looked upon as "facts" that we must consider. HOGWASH! Perhaps the words of Henry Hazlitt are as true today as they were when he first penned them: "There is not a more mean, stupid, dastardly, pitiful, selfish, spiteful, envious, ungrateful, animal than the Public. It is the greatest of cowards, for it is afraid of itself." With this in mind, why would anyone want to be persuaded or dissuaded by such a thing as "Public Opinion?" To the contrary, why wouldn't we want to stand on what is really truth? God's Word is truth. The power of divine truth revealed in the Scriptures can never be stifled. The dynamic of divine truth in a man's soul can be produced only by the Word of God believed in the heart, fed upon and assimilated. This subsequently results in great spiritual strength evidenced in holiness of life and witnessing zeal for Jesus Christ. The futility of man's efforts to find "truth" in public opinion, or anyplace else outside the Word of Truth, will only result in man glorifying man. But, the Holy Spirit's work in a man's soul will ever glorify Christ. But knowing the Truth and standing on the Truth are two different things. Sure, we can accept the Word of God as Truth. We can tell others about it too, but what about really standing on the Truth of God's Word? This is where many Christians fail to live a victorious life. Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. That is impressive when we consider all the time we spend for our daily meals. Job said he had not gone back on the commandment of God's lips, and that he had esteemed the words of God more than his physical food. Remember that Job had a serious problem that he was facing. But he was able to stand, even in the midst of fantastic adversity because he, "… esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." That is the difference between knowing the Truth and standing on the Truth. Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. If you are going to have physical power, you have to have physical food. If you are going to have spiritual power, you have got to have God's Word. Any time the truth of God's Word is spoken with believing and love, it will produce the same results that it did when it was first spoken. It is the same God and same Word of God today. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. He always causes us to triumph in Christ. Therefore, can we ever be a failure when we are walking for Him and standing on His Word? If the whole world says, by survey, that you are a failure, but you are standing for God on His Word, then they have to be wrong. Because God's Word has stood a lot longer than the critics who are criticizing it. The word of man, for the most part, has gained prominence in the world far above the authority of God's Word. We must come to the place that we doubt men's words but that we never doubt the Truth of God's Word, for His Word stands par excellence. Let's take a stand for truth. |
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