Truth will always leave a trail of facts behind it…but-
Truth will always leave a trail of Facts behind… in an attempt to ‘point the way’ for us to discover it. See Video link
But….
We always need to have an attitude of willingness to receive the truth, or we will automatically reject the facts that are pointing to it.
No matter how smart we are, from being brilliant to average intelligence, we simply will discard ‘the trail of facts or proof’ if we have already rejected the message of truth preceding it. Simply, truth comes first…we have to be sincerely seeking it above ‘all’ our personal world views…or we will reject it because we will be closed to any evidence that comes our way-trying to give legitimacy to the truth.
WW 2 Example
If people do not want the truth… than those in power can continually deceive us and we will believe the lies. This was done to the masses in WW 2. There were a few who recognized the violence of Hitler’s ‘brown shirts’ that were created before the war…and the hate rhetoric he fueled against the Jews and other minority groups. Those few who were not naïve knew exactly what was coming. In the link below is one incredible example of a Jewish Lawyer (Hans Litten) who publically confronted Hitler before the slaughter of millions of innocent lives in WW 2 Link.
Most of the German population however did not want the truth…so there was no amount of ‘facts’ presented by Hans Litten or others that could change their minds. Remember:
-Truth is first
-It leaves a trail of facts or evidence…
-But we have to be open to the truth in order to receive its facts or evidence.
Kinda simple. Truth births facts, but is we don’t want mama truth, than we reject whatever she leaves in her trail-no matter how helpful and obvious the facts may be.
This is one of the most critical mistakes that our society makes. That is why Hitler and his propaganda minister Joseph Goebbel repeatedly said…
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it Link
This quote was used mainly in reference to ‘the big lie’… that the Jewish people were the reason to most of the world’s problems. They knew, if they could get the people to ‘hate the Jew’ than there was no amount of facts or evidence to convince the people of the truth…that the Jewish people are incredibly decent…and have every right to happiness as everyone else in society. The result, a highly intelligent and socially affluent nation… that for the most part, completely accepted and in many ways directly participated in the mass extermination of millions of innocent Jewish lives.
Jesus, in contrast, knew the tragic consequences of denial…and taught that maintaining a pure heart is the key to discovering truth.
He understood a heart that is rejecting the truth will blind us to the facts that are attempting to authenticate these truths.
Ps. 18:26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; …
-We have to work against having a heart the allows bias or prejudice to creep in…this can cause us to reject the truth…of His great love for all mankind (something we all have to work on) 🙂
1 John 2:11 But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knows not where he goes, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Luke 6:41 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? (being hostile or prejudice causes us to become blind…not only to our faults, but also to truth in general.)
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. His love covers everyone who will come to Him. It can be difficult to accept, but Gods love can cover our worst enemies.
-We need to be willing to allow God or others to teach us truth when it is presented to us (this is called a heart of humility or a heart of a child)
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Matt. 22:37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
The greatest commandment is constantly examining every area of our lives (body, soul and spirit, being honest with ourselves and to the Lord). Having to honestly deal with our shortcomings will maintain a pure heart. This is sooo important to the Lord, He made this the greatest commandment. See our Road with God Part 1, Part 2
-Jesus never told the religious leaders (who were responsible for His execution) that the reason they could not understand His mission was because they did not ‘study’ enough-or were not ‘smart enough’.
John 5:39-40 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me, 40 yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.
Jesus always blamed an attitude of the heart for their self induced blindness and ignorance.
Mark 3:3-6 And Jesus said to the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they (the religious leaders) held their peace. 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might kill Jesus
Matthew 15:14 Leave them (religious leaders): they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (In reference to the pride, arrogance and evil ways of the heart…makes one blind to truth) See Matt. 23.
Note: While the religious rulers were blinded because of their evil hearts, it is important to realize we don’t have to be like them to have important areas of denial in our lives. The greatest commandment above, was given to those who believed Jesus as the messiah. For all of us, it is critical to search our hearts and be humble enough to continually receive the truths He has given us.
A Real Life Example
Let’s use a real life example. Almost all reading this post have tried to help others who did not have the same experience we have in a certain area. If those who were inexperienced were brash and thought they knew better did not receive your wisdom (truth about the proper way to achieve the goal) they continued to make mistakes and never discovered ‘the better way’. Those that humbly realized their limitations and knew they needed guidance by someone with greater understanding…gladly received your direction and was the better for it 🙂
It’s not difficult to understand, this is also true with God. The Lord does not force His way on us, Divine Love cannot violate the genuine calling for a glorious eternal relationship. See Link God is Calling, Does Goe Reveal Himself to Man Genuine loving relationships come by invitation… and not by coercion or violation.
Facts can point us the way…but our hearts need to be willing to realize we need the help of the Lord in order to receive ‘His Way’ into our lives. Like the person you tried to help…we have to be willing to take Gods help and allow His restoration into our lives His way…the correct way. God is not trying to be mean and authoritative, He is simply reaching out to us…trying to help us in a sacrificial way that is beyond anything we could ever imagine. His love is absolutely astonishing, please see how much in the following link. How much does God love us.
Western Society
Those of us who live ‘in the West’ have many advantages than those living in other countries. As we know however, our strengths at times can become our weaknesses. We rely heavily on intellectual understanding…which at times is really important. Because of this however, we can tend to neglect other areas of understanding that are given to us by God. We tend to believe we can ‘figure out everything’ which ironically, is completely ‘illogical and unscientific’. See link.
Note: As mentioned above, the Lord wants us to realize, we use our minds to be smart about our walk in life, but we use our innocent heart to avoid evil…so we can be willing to be open to the truth-and any evidence that the truth brings to our lives.
Here is a key teaching about needing to have both… a an open heart (like an innocent child) willing to receive the truth…so our mind can then apply these truths to our lives.
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers and sisters… In regard to evil be infants (innocent heart, mentioned first-so we will have clear minds that are willing to accept the truth when presented), but in your thinking be adults (use your minds to skillfully avoid unhealthy teachings and life styles).
As His Children, We Need His Daily Direction In Our Lives
Sooo much of life can never be proven scientifically…things that we cannot measure, evaluate and test by repetition.
Therefore, emotions (positive and negative-joy, love, hurt, grief etc), things we don’t understand with our finite mind, what our future and destiny holds for us, answering questions about the afterlife, how to live our life correctly…are in many instances beyond anything we can ‘naturally understand’, or can be proven scientifically. Logically, if God were real…He would simply need to ‘fill in the gaps’ so we could have the answers we need to live in the most meaningful way. In short… like a young child needing a parent, we need the Lord in our daily lives.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 15:4-5 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can your, except you abide in Me. … for apart from Me ye can do nothing.
Remember the person you tried to help…yes, it all depended on their willingness to receive your instruction (truth) that you were ready to give them. The evidence and facts of your greater understanding were always there… but that however was not the only critical issue. What really mattered, is their willingness to receive the truth that you had…an open heart to the truth. Yes, Jesus is pretty smart….it is worth repeating…
Humbly receiving the Lords direction
Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
We were meant to have His glorious truth shining our hearts…
His desires what is best for us… a love that will last forever 🙂
Please see the following links to receive His truth into our lives. God bless, Bill
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