What shall we do with the Truth

What shall we do with the Truth?

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

What is the biggest sin that a man can commit? This is not a wise question since it seems to stem from a desire to excuse some sins as not as serious as others. Yet, there are some sins that are more serious, simply because they lead to many other sins and crimes. So for example, pride is often overlooked as a “minor weakness” but it is, in fact, a very serious sin, as it results in many other sins such as abuse, anger, lack of compassion, insensitivity to others and ultimately, rebellion towards God. Lust and greed are deemed as little issues in the lives of Christians, yet they lead to theft, adultery, murder, lying and many more grievous transgressions.

Thus, one of the most serious sins anyone can commit is knowing the truth and yet, suppressing that knowledge. Almost every sin man commits is a result of his deliberately suppressing the knowledge that he is sinning. Notice that in the context of this chapter, Paul says that God is angry about people who suppress the truth, in a sense, more than He is about the homosexuality, adultery and all the other horrible things that are listed in the chapter. In fact, the sins listed in verses 29 through 31 of Romans 1, are a consequence of God’s anger and not the reason for it!

Paul, in writing the Epistle to the Romans, writes a theological treatise or thesis on the subject of salvation and as such, is meticulous in covering all the bases. In the first three chapters he proves that no-one can say that they did not know about God, His attributes and His requirements of mankind. Everyone has some understanding of God either through creation, conscience or the Scriptures. But very few even acknowledge the existence of God. Take the evolutionist scientist for example. No-one has a clearer understanding that there is a Creator than those who spend their time looking through a microscope or telescope, yet they choose to deny the very facts that stare them in the face every day.

The problem is not that man does not know, but that man chooses to suppress what he knows. The word used here literally means to “hold under”, “to keep in check”, or to suppress. Just like someone who wants to scream but the sound does not get out because the sound is being suppressed by a hand over the mouth. In the same way there is something within each of us that wants to shout the truth, but we suppress it because we don’t want to know. We all get very upset when the government suppresses the truth about some issue that affects us, yet we commit that same crime against ourselves almost every day.

It is not just the unbeliever who suppresses the truth, but Christians get very good at it as well. We are not born (again) with that ability, but it is something we learn to do and eventually get very good at. When preaching I often see the shutters go up in people’s eyes as they brace themselves against some truth that they don’t want to hear. That is but one way of doing this. Other ways are always being busy, so we don’t get time to think about that quiet small voice or by subtly changing the truth to be closer to what is more convenient.

Unfortunately the facts don’t change or go away just because we choose to ignore them and the Lord says that we are all without excuse (Romans 1:20 & 2:1). Let me put it another way. No-one; no believer or non-believer, Jew or Gentile, educated or barbarian will be able to stand before God on the day of judgment and say that they did not know that there is a God and what He requires of them. This does not only apply to the broad questions of His existence and attributes, but to every small detail that He speaks to us about. In fact, every one who owns a Bible will be held accountable for everything in that Bible. Don’t say: “The Lord has not spoken to me about this or that”. If it is in the Bible, then He has spoken to you, and you have no excuse.

Now, of course, the question is: What aspects of the truth have we been suppressing? Every believer has things that he knows he should be doing or not doing, but we choose to ignore those sins that we enjoy so much, even if it results in us walking in disobedience. There is nothing more pathetic than a person who is under the conviction of the Spirit but who is fighting with God. Don’t you understand, there is no way you will win that battle? If God is speaking to you, you have two options: Either obey and know God’s blessing or ignore God and know His displeasure. Why fight a war you just cannot win, rather surrender to Him. Give up, and let God be God. After all He is far better at running things than we are. Another pathetic scene is when someone waxes eloquent about something he knows little about in the presence of an expert on the subject. Yet, we do that to God all the time – we try to run our lives and churches as though we have the answers while the real Expert is standing in the shadows offering advice which we simply ignore. How foolish is that?

Listen to Him while he is speaking. Yes, you may get away with suppressing the truth for now, but the time will come when you will wish you had obeyed because the Lord’s advice is not given to make life complicated but every bit of truth He gives us, is for our safety, protection and welfare. I will always remember flying with pilots in the air force who would unplug warning devices because they did not like the sound of the buzzers warning them that they were doing something the airplane was not designed to do. Don’t silence that still, small voice, not even for a single moment. Be quick to hold onto His words and to respond to every instruction that comes from Him. He is not like some of us who blabber away for the sake of generating hot air. Every word that proceeds from God is important, valuable and worthy of full acceptance and absolute obedience.

Don’t put it off – obey Him right now and you will find peace restored to your walk once again.

Anton Bosch

antonbosch@sbcglobal.net

3310 W Magnolia Blvd

Burbank, CA, 91505

Tel 818 846 5520