A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 3 NO. 6                                             April 2, 2006

KNOWING THE TRUTH

BY STEVE NIEMEIER

A country comedian once said that he had a cousin who had rather climb a tree and tell a lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth.  Sometimes it seems that many had rather do that.  Especially when it comes to facing the truth as it pertains to the will of God.

John 8:31-32 tells us that the truth will make us free.  Free from what?  In verses 34 through 36 from the 8th chapter of John we find that we can be free from sin.  Many of us are slaves to sin even though we try hard not to be.  Satan knows us pretty well and will continually put things before us that we succomb to.  Sin makes one miserable and is only pleasurable for a short period of time (Hebrews 11:25).  It is addictive just like a drug.  Sometimes we “lean” upon it to get a few minutes away from the burdens of life.  It is sad because afterwards we now have the extra burden of that sin we must bear.

The truth of the matter is that the good news of the doctrine of Jesus the Christ will set us free from the burdens of sin.  Will it eliminate all the burdens of life?  Not as we want to eliminate them.  The burdens of this life are here and we must deal with those burdens.  Hebrews 11:13-16 tells ut that those mentioned earlier in that chapter had died in faith, not receiving the promises but seeing them afar off.  They realized they were just strangers and pilgrims on this earth.  As a result of that faith they looked for a better place, a heavenly country.

My friend the truth is that we need to deal with our burdens of life by being obedient to the truth of the Word of God and look beyond this earth to a better place that God has promised to the faithful.  God is not slack in His promise (II Peter 1:3-9).

That is the truth and we can be free from the grasp of Satan if we will obey this truth!