Do I Really Want The Truth? Our reaction to the Truth will answer that question.

Do I Really Want The Truth? All of us understand the necessity of knowing the truth. It would be almost impossible to function in society if we did not know what the truth was on certain matters. How long would we be able to keep a job if we thought the work day started at noon but in reality it started at 7:00 am? When we begin a new job, we really do want the truth about what time we start!

Do I Really Want The Truth? What if we wanted to go to Memphis from Marion but we thought you had to take I-55 north in order to get there? We would end up in St Louis if we continued on that path not Memphis. We really need the truth about which way to go on I-55 in order to get to Memphis. All of us would want to know that truth!

Do I Really Want The Truth? We need the truth in business in order to operate. We need true phone #’s, email addresses, physical addresses We need and want the truth in sports. The batter doesn’t want the umpire to tell him he has an 0-2 count when it is 3-0. The quarterback doesn’t want the referee to tell him it is 4th down when it is 1st down.

Do I Really Want The Truth? We could go on for hours listing things in this life that we want and need the truth about. Being deceived can cause us a great deal of problems in work, play and our relationships with others. I believe that most “religious” people would claim to want the truth when it comes to the Bible. However, just claiming something does not make it so.

Do I Really Want The Truth? Our desire or lack of desire for the Truth in matters of religion can be seen by our reaction to it. We need to understand how important the Truth really is. It is only through the a knowledge of the Truth that we can be made free from sin. Joh 8:31 ¶ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

Do I Really Want The Truth? Joh 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

Do I Really Want The Truth? The Truth is contained in the words of Christ and it is only thru a knowledge of His word that we can be set free from sin. It is only thru the Truth of God’s word that we can be sanctified or made holy. Joh 17:17 ¶ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. “Sanctify” comes from the Greek word “hagiazo” which means: to make holy or purify.

Do I Really Want The Truth? It is not just thru a knowledge of this truth that we are purified but thru obedience to it. 1Pe 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

Do I Really Want The Truth? It is only thru the Truth that we can have that home in Heaven with God. Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Do I Really Want The Truth? Not believing the Truth is the worst mistake we could ever make! 2Th 2:10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Do I Really Want The Truth? 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Do I Really Want The Truth? Rejecting the Truth, once we know what it is, puts us in a hopeless situation. Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Do I Really Want The Truth? 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Do I Really Want The Truth? 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Do I Really Want The Truth? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Do I Really Want The Truth? There is no doubt that we really need the Truth but do we really want it? Do we want the Truth about attending worship services? Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. That is the Truth!

Do I Really Want The Truth? Remember what’s waiting when we willfully disobey God Heb 10:27 …fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation… Do we want the Truth about Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage? Mt 19:9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

Do I Really Want The Truth? That is the Truth about who can remarry after a divorce. The Truth on marriage, divorce and remarriage is plain and easy to understand. Do we really want the Truth? Do we really want the Truth when it comes to being a Liar? Do we have a habit of telling little white lies?

Do I Really Want The Truth? Re 21:8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.“ That is the Truth about liars. Are we going to sin willfully by Lying now that we know the Truth? Remember what’s waiting for those who sin willfully.

Do I Really Want The Truth? Do we really want the Truth about who should come first in our lives? Ourselves, family, friends or God? Mt 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law';

Do I Really Want The Truth? 36 "and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

Do I Really Want The Truth? Lu 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. That’s the Truth about who should come first in our lives! Will we disobey God in order to please someone else in our life?

Do I Really Want The Truth? Do we really want the truth about the influence our wicked friends and family can have on us? 1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits.“ If we don’t believe that, then we have been deceived! That’s the Truth about wicked friends and family.

Do I Really Want The Truth? Do we really want the Truth about how many will get into Heaven? Mt 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Do I Really Want The Truth? Just passing thru life trying to not be that bad of a person is not going to get us into Heaven. Lu 13:23 ¶ Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Many who think they will make it into Heaven will be disappointed on the day of judgment

Do I Really Want The Truth? Mt 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!‘ That’s the Truth on how difficult it is to get into Heaven. Do we really think we will make it without a complete commitment to God?

Conclusion Sometimes we think we want the Truth until we find out what it really is. We must have a sincere desire for the Truth and a willingness to accept it no matter what it is. When we know the Truth on a matter and then reject it we are on very dangerous ground. The Truth doesn’t change just because we don’t like it!