Know the Truth

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Know the truth; it can be deadly if you don’t! Some of you are old enough to remember the awful tragedy with Jim Jones and the People’s Temple in Guyana. The tragic events took place in November, 1978. A team that included a U.S. Representative from California, Leo Ryan, went to investigate reports that people were being held against their will. The team was ambushed and killed, and then the unthinkable began to unfold in the following days. 

Authorities discovered nearly 800 bodies that had either been shot, or had committed suicide by drinking the infamous “Guyana Grape Drink,” a cyanide-laced punch. The leader of the California-based cult, Jim Jones, was found near an altar. He died from a gunshot wound to the head. 

How could something like that happen? It almost seems unfathomable, especially when you know they reportedly taught from the Scriptures! How could anyone be so deceived? The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons (doctrine of demons in some translations)” [1Timothy 4:1]. 

Knowing the truth of Scripture is a serious matter. One of the many benefits of knowing it is being able to reprove what is contrary to it. That’s the meaning behind Paul’s instruction to Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable … for reproof…” [2 Timothy 3:16].

You need not worry about being duped by false teachers when you are filled with the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and guides you in all things truthful [John 16:13].

False teachers, using “doctrine of demons,” will always distort the truth of God’s word. They have to eradicate it in order to justify their lies. So, beware and be strong in the Word. Don’t believe everything that is taught in the name of Christ. Rather, try them, test them, reprove them. That’s what the Apostle John said: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” [1 John 4:1].

Scripture is the standard by which you must measure all teaching.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8