Those in this age who wield power in government, business, religion and virtually every walk of life are not governed—first and foremost—by truth!
 
What the actual state of a matter is; what can stand the test of verification; what the real facts are—all that denotes and defines truth is simply not held in godly esteem by society!
 
We live in a time in which deception supersedes truth, and it does so because Satan, who is the father of lies (John 8:44), powerfully influences mankind. However, there are some who don’t believe the innumerable falsehoods permeating our world—they are the ones who are governed by truth:
 
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:19-20; compare, also, John 14:6).
 
Jesus said, “‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:32).
 
That freedom comes because we have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in us and opening our understanding to His Word, and His is the Spirit of truth (compare John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; and 1 John 4:6). Jesus asked that His followers be set apart by God’s truth, and He further stated: “‘…Your word is truth’” (John 17:17).
 
Jesus also had to contend with the Adversary, and Satan’s method for tempting Christ was to lie—he misquoted Scripture, trying to give a deceptive application, but that did not work and this is what Jesus gave in answer:
 
“‘…It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4).
 
As we see, Satan sought to destroy Jesus Christ—just as he now particularly seeks to destroy the people of God (compare 1 Peter 5:8-9). Attacks against the Church of God by Satan have continued, and we have been warned of this (compare Matthew 24:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-3).
 
Withstanding deception is no inconsequential matter!
 
Our battle can only be won when we stand up for and stand in the truth of God—the truth we know!

What about your life–are you absorbed and busy, captivated by your opportunities and enthralled with indomitable fascination?
 
Or have you just lost interest in most of what is happening? Do you merely endure the things that come your way, day after day?
 
I think we have all observed people who radiate a sense of being fully engaged in what they do. I am also fairly certain that each one of us have had our moments when that could be said of us.
 
When reading what is recorded about the life of Jesus Christ, it is an unmistakable fact that He vigorously fulfilled God’s Will for Him: He fasted forty days in preparation for the Work He was given (Matthew 4:2); He prayed fervently for God’s guidance (Luke 6:12-16; Matthew 26:36-46); He was willing to die in order to save others (John 10:15)—in all that Jesus did, He did everything with a zealous commitment to please God!
 
In Matthew 25:14-30, the parable of the talents is given by Jesus. Quite decisively, some of the servants were more productive than others. We find an example of someone who used his talents with great energy and effectiveness—the apostle Paul:
 
“For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10).
 
Jesus Christ stated this concerning all who are His disciples:
 
“‘…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly’” (John 10:10).
 
We are also told in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…”

 Let’s not make the tragic mistake of drifting along without fervently responding to the supreme calling that is Christianity.
 
Now, what about the life that you now live, are you engaged—really?

When was the last time you were corrected? More importantly, when discipline came your way, did you take it and actually make a change in your life?
 
When Nathan was sent by God to confront David for his sin with Uriah’s wife and of Uriah’s murder, David simply said, “‘I have sinned against the LORD’” (2 Samuel 12:13). Psalm 51 gives us more details of King David’s heartfelt repentance—let’s note some of the key verses:
 
“For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me, Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight…” (verses 3-4).
 
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (verses 10-11).
 
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise” (verse 17).
 
Because David was willing to take his correction and profoundly change his approach, God forgave and accepted him and continued to work with him. So great was David’s repentance, that God’s covenant with him continues until this very day, and it will find even greater fulfillment in the future.
 
All of us need correction, and we, like David did, should seek it from God. Hebrews 12, verses 3 through 11, outlines why Christians will undergo episodes of discipline.
 
How does this occur?
 
It happens (or should) when we study the Word of God, when we hear messages from God’s true servants, when we read the Church’s literature (including our booklets and weekly Updates), when we counsel and fellowship, when we privately pray and meditate, and when we are very attentive and receptive as to how God is working in our lives. In everything we do, we should be sensitive to making changes to walk more and more completely in God’s Way. This is possible because we have God’s Holy Spirit.
 
But we must not ignore or quench God’s Spirit of power (1 Thessalonians 5:19), nor reject learning to think like Jesus Christ thinks (Philippians 2:5).
 
Here is a promise we can count on if we are true Christians—more discipline lies ahead! The next time you are corrected, will you take it?

Jesus Christ “…gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4); furthermore, “…He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5).
 
The Son of God died for us! He committed no sin (compare 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15).
 
However, the Bible clearly reveals and bluntly states this about the rest of mankind: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Here is the reason: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8).
 
A change must occur!
 
For those who have this knowledge; who have been called by God; who have repented of sin; and who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit–conversion is taking place if we are continuing to become more and more like Jesus Christ!
 
Becoming a Christian is not just a single event–something we choose to say we are–it is a process of living just like Christ lived! Note how Paul addresses this:
 
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
 
Now, while we are instructed to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), we are additionally reminded that we are still battling sin:
 
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 1:8-10; 2:1-2).
 
While we have just once again commemorated the death of Jesus Christ by observing the Passover (compare 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), we now are in the midst of observing the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread–which includes a special Holy Day on both the first and last of these days (compare Leviticus 23:6-8). During this time we are to eat only bread (or other food) that is unleavened, as well as put all leaven out of our homes. In addition, God’s instruction is that some unleavened bread is to be eaten each day of this Feast (compare Exodus 13:3-10).
 
Paul uses this observance to show that we are to also be removing sin from our lives—this is what the true Church of God has continued to practice:
 
“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
 
As we carefully clean our lives of leaven–a type of sin–let us be even the more diligent to remove and eliminate sin, “…for sin is the transgression of the law” (KJV 1 John 3:4).