April 5: DON’T SUPPRESS THE TRUTH!
“A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:35-36a
These words of Jesus indicate His awareness of fallen human nature to push back against every truth that we are given. Always be ready to welcome each truth of God into your day-to-day life. The empowerment to live it out is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). In your quiet “mountaintop” moments with the Lord, He will light up a “stepping stone” for you (Psalm 119:105). Be sure to obey that light by stepping into it, or it will turn into darkness. Our Savior points out: “If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23). The dreadful darkness of willful disobedience is self-inflicted spiritual blindness. This is more difficult to overcome than simple ignorance.
Paul was intent upon encouraging an uninterrupted development of personal character and integrity before God in the infant churches of the first century – and not only when he was there in person. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). The Lord wants your experience with Him to be so genuine that it shows, even much more when you think no one is looking. Your theology must exhibit itself – or work out – in your everyday activities and relationships. This is what sanctification is: walking with the Lord Jesus in the light of His word. Do not worry about whatever you do not know. But be certain to incorporate that which you do know into the reality of your daily life. If you do this, you will continually be entrusted with increased spiritual understanding. Jesus said it like this: “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him” (Luke 8:18).
God’s anger and grief play out by allowing you to pursue your own course: being given over to the sin that you are captivated by. Paul put it this way: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness . . . because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened . . . Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness . . . who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator . . . For this reason God gave them up to vile passions . . . God gave them over to a debased mind . . . being filled with all unrighteousness (Romans 1:18,21,24a,25a26a,28b,29a).
Faith must be tested. It is the struggle of the test that builds “spiritual muscle”. The popular path of least resistance is actually the most perilous one, for it indicates you are giving in to the temptation to betray the Lord, thus moving away from Him. He will not force you to stay with Him. But He is grieved. Instead, run to Him and ask His help!
And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5