HOW TO KNOW THE TRUTH (Back to Sunday School Series)
I locked my Spanish teacher in the classroom closet one day.
This little prank made learning Spanish impossible.
And it certainly didn't help my grade.
I ignored the textbook and the teacher when the lessons became too demanding. Scared to take the final test, I slammed the door and ran away.
I'm not the first to deal with my ignorance using this method. People did it in Bible days, too.
In John 8, the religious leaders didn't like Jesus's teaching. But rather than ask for help to understand, they shut the door in Jesus's face.
This created a barrier between them and God.
Because Jesus had said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
To know what's true about God, we must go to Jesus and, through Jesus, not lock Him away when we don’t feel like listening.
Truth is never the problem. It's what we choose to do with it.
"Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say." (v43)
Jesus said the religious leaders refused to listen to the Way, the Truth, and the Life because they preferred living the same old way with the same old lies.
"You belong to your father, the devil….When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (v44)
We can't judge those religious leaders, though.
We also tend to skip over some parts of the Bible when they hit a little too close to home.
Rather than ask Jesus questions, we question Jesus.
Did God REALLY say THAT? Does Jesus REALLY expect me to do THAT?
It's tempting to slam the Bible shut and do your best.
But if you do, you'll begin to speak half-truths, which is the same as living a lie.
It won’t be long before you realize.
You really DO want to be true like Jesus.
But you can't do it on your own.
And that's precisely the truth you need to know to begin learning.
The Teacher and Textbook are waiting for you.
Not to lock you up but to set you free.
Jesus welcomes all returning students with these Words:
"If you continue in My Word, you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." (v31-32)
All you need to do is come to Jesus, open your Bible and heart, and let Him teach you God’s language of love, one beautiful word at a time.