by Dane Massey
(Dane Massey is the former Pastor of Mulvane Christian Church. He is now in ministry in Houston, Texas.)
I’ve spent my week thinking on the love of the truth, as reflected in II Thessalonians 2:9-12.
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” II Thess. 9-12 KJV).
My focus has been on the thought, “they did not receive the love of the truth.” Later it refers to “believing the truth” but here it speaks of “loving the truth.”
As I’ve thought and written, on living in this age where the “spirit of iniquity/lawlessness” is already at work, this verse has been continually in the back of my mind.
There is no neutrality here for God responds to my “love of the truth.” The passage is very clear that if I do not “love it” I will believe a lie. I can not be passive or neutral in this matter.
The enemy is on hand and God is watching, both shall respond to my love or lack of love for the truth. I either “love the truth” or believe a lie.
Because of the “strong delusion” I will not know if I’ve believed a lie until it is too late. No one who is deceived knows they are. The moment they know they are deceived they are no longer. I must never be so arrogant as to believe that in my own intellect I cannot be deceived. My only hope is the Truth revealed in the Word.
The concept of receiving the love of the truth reminds me how vulnerable I am to deception. It’s not by my intellect that I come to the truth. Men and women far smarter than I have believed a lie. Only through humble submission to God’s grace and His Word will I come to the truth.
James warns me that I must “receive with meekness the engrafted Word which is able to save my soul” (James 1:21).
Meekness is teachability that encompasses not only an eagerness to learn but a commitment to obey.
The Word must not only be read, studied, etc… but engrafted!
Engrafted is a word in the Greek that implies not only being planted but “rooted” and “to germinate.” The Word of God must “come alive” in me, permeating every area of my heart (motives) and life (actions).
To “love the truth” is not only an eagerness to learn but also to live.
The word for love here is “agape” which would encompass the idea of a pure motive as I come to the truth. Many are those who have come to the truth with a desire to “use” it or to “manipulate” it for their own use or advantage.
Many are the politicians and preachers of our day who quote random verses to justify their actions or to gain an advantage. To “love the truth” is not to use it but to be “used by it.”
James outlines an approach to the Word like approaching eating breakfast when I was a kid. Mom would say basically the same three things as she called you for breakfast:
>”Wash Up! Hands and Face!”
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness…” (James. 1:21)
”You can order what you want but you will eat what is served! Clean your plate!”
“….. receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James. 1:21)
I’ve heard hundreds of times in almost 50 years of ministry, “I’m just not being fed.” Maybe one should consider that “I’m being fed but I just won’t eat because I don’t like what’s being served! .
Paul warns of a day when men will gather only to “have their ears tickled” and will only listen to those who will do the tickling.
Some “teaching” of today shouldn’t be eaten. It is merely man-made philosophy and therapeutic nonsense with a few verses thrown in to “Christianize” it. This calls for discernment but when I come to the Word whether in study or sermon it should be to “eat what is served.”
It’s easy to develop an appetite for certain topics, brand of delivery, etc. If I’m not careful my picky appetite centers more on what I like rather than a love of the truth.
>”Get a move on there are chores to be done!”
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”(James. 1:22).
Eating, feeding on the Word is not a leisure activity, carrying with the objective of lethargic obesity. The objective is active obedience developing a disciplined life.
A lack of active obedience leads to deception. It is easy to become one who “is always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Timothy 3:7). If I want to “know and love” the truth it must be a whole-life approach not just an intellectual pursuit.
Many are the times I’ve had someone say, “it’s been awhile since God really spoke to me through His Word.” My response is always the same, “Did you obey what He told you last time? Is there something you’re avoiding that He was speaking to you about?” If I haven’t obeyed what He has already spoken to me why would He speak again?
Remember, loving the truth embraces far more than mere learning, and when it is engrafted into your life it will not only flourish, it will protect you from the deceptions of this age.
If you love the truth you will never believe the lie!
Page 7 