THE LITERALTRUTH

                                             CHARLES WOODRUFF

You cannot believe everything you read; nor everything you see; nor everything you hear; neither everything you think you know. One of the supposed dilemmas of man is “the quest for truth.” All of us may have asked at one time or another “why am I here?” We can certainly see that in the present difficulties of America, and for that matter, the entire world, it is almost impossible to discern the real truth. For instance, how did the economy get in the present mess? Why were we told that gas prices a couple of summers ago were so high because China and India, etc. were developing rapidly and using much more oil now? Now that gas prices are sinking, does this mean that China, India and other developing nations have stopped developing? What is the literal truth?

We were not told the truth about illegal aliens. We are told that the illegals are not taking jobs from American citizens, that they are mostly taking jobs no American wants to do. Ask an American construction worker if this is the truth and see what answer you get. Also, what about the border fence that was approved and started almost five years ago. Is it finished yet? No, and we are told there were many technical problems involving buying border land that caused the problems. What about “global warming?” Are we being told the truth? We are told the pollution from industrialized nations is the cause of temperatures rising and polar ice melting. I have great respect for scientists. I wanted to be one when I was young. But we definitely are not being told the whole truth regarding global warming and its dangers. There is a political agenda here. It is to penalize the productive nations. Actually they cannot give a good explanation why the USA has had a very cold autumn and winter this year. Does that appear to be “global warming?”

One thing is sure; the politicians are not going to give us the truth. The news media is not going to give us the truth. Hollywood is not going to give us the truth. Where is the truth? The same place it has always been --the word of God! That old despised book that has been ridiculed, hated, dissected and diluted is still the place of straight answers. Even more so, the old book tells us the truth about THE TRUTH, Jesus Christ. He said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Some have said “How do we know that Jesus really existed?” Well, we could ask how we know that George Washington, or Abraham Lincoln, or Napoleon Bonaparte, or even Princess Diana even existed since they are not here now on earth in the flesh. There is as much or more proof that Jesus Christ existed, and that He still exists today, than any of these other persons, or anyone else you can name. Just one proof is the transformed lives of millions, both today and in the past. Jesus said; “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). In spite of attempts over the centuries to destroy Christ’s church, it still exists and grows. Even in China where it was persecuted, and hated by the communist regime for over 50 years, the church is vibrant with millions of professed believers. The truth prevailed in spite of persecution.

Yes, literal truth exists in the person of Christ and His word. “And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12). Also, this about Jesus Christ and His book: “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31). “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things (our needs, such as food, housing clothing etc...) shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

                                                 

                                                  THE SCRIPTURE                                                     

"The Scripture is both the breeder and feeder of grace. How is the convert born, but by `the word of truth'? (James 1:18). How doth he grow, but by `the sincere milk of the Word.'?"

(1 Peter 2:2)   - Thomas Watson