Thankful for the Truth

And Happy Thanksgiving! I am so excited that I'll get to see my children and grandchildren this week. I love this time of year. I have a great deal to be thankful for. I want to thank you for watching or listening.

I should mention I'm thankful for many that have financially supported this ministry over the past year, and if you'd like to help, you can see how to on my website, davidshivers.com.

We live in a crazy world. This Thanksgiving, I am going to focus on being thankful, thankful that I know the truth. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth." In John chapter 16, Jesus is talking of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Listen how he refers to the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "When the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth."

Our world today seems to have trouble with the truth. People with a straight face say that men can have babies just like a woman. Science is now subject more to politics than to the pursuit of the truth. Statistics show that most younger Americans say there is no absolute truth. Well over 50 percent say that each person determines their own version of Truth.

Sadly, the problem has hit the church in a big way. Just a few weeks ago, a Catholic priest in southern Ireland was made to apologize for a sermon that taught that sin leads to hell. The bishop of Kerry, Ray Brown, suspended Father Sheehy for his sermon that taught that sin leads to hell.

In his written apology, the priest wrote, "I'm aware of the deep upset and hurt caused by the contents of the homilies in question delivered over the weekend. I apologize to all who were offended. The views expressed do not represent the Christian position. The homily and a regular weekend Parish mass is not appropriate for such issues to be spoken of in such terms. I regret that this has occurred while a parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land is taking place. The gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the gospel of love and ever proclaims the Dignity of every human person. It calls on all of us to ever have total respect for one another."

As I read that, I was thankful that I have been taught the truth. Hell is real. Sin leads to hell, and not everyone goes to heaven. Jesus died for our sins so that we can believe in him and be with him, but we must believe. It's not automatic. Sin does lead to hell. If that makes people uncomfortable, it's better to tell them the truth than to lie to them and lead them to hell.

Where does my truth come from? It comes from the Bible, the word of God. I believe in the truth of creation found in Genesis. I believe in the truth of the end times found in Revelation, and I also believe every word between Genesis and revelation.

Let me share with you some of those truths I believe. I believe that God loves me, and he loves you. Scripture teaches that. I believe that this life is not all that there is. Scripture teaches that. I believe that the answers to the problems in our world are not going to be solved by politicians. This world needs God. Scripture teaches that.

I believe that sex is for marriage. That's in Scripture. I believe that marriage is forever. Scripture teaches that. I believe if the grace of God is greater than my sin. That's truth found in Scripture. And I believe that with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can run from sin. Scripture teaches that.

I believe in prayer. Thank you for joining me in our recent study of the Lord's Prayer. I believe that God is always myth with me. Scripture is clear about that. I could go on and on, but I want us to look at what Jesus said about the truth.

In John chapter 8, we're told that some Jews came to believe in Jesus. It's likely that these are Pharisees, Jewish teachers of religious law, and we're not sure how genuine their belief is. Jesus gave them a challenge. He said this in John 8:31 and 32. "Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'"

No matter our age, we need to continue in God's word. That is proof of our discipleship. I am so thankful that my life has been exposed to God's word, the Bible, the truth. I am thankful that I am set free.

What have I been freed from? I've been freed from the power of sin and the penalty of sin, and I am most blessed to be able to discern the truth in this crazy world. If that is your experience, you should be most thankful. If not, you need to run to the truth found only in Jesus Christ. Happy Thanksgiving. Be thankful for the truth found only in God.

Pray with me. Lord, as we will gather around full tables this week with people that we love, we might talk about things and health and family, and those are great things to talk about and to be thankful for. But I am so thankful, most thankful, for the truth that I have a connection to the god that created this world and who sustains it.

I thank you for the truth taught to me by parents and teachers and churches over the years. And father, thank you that it lets us be free in this crazy world. In Jesus name we pray, amen. God bless. Happy Thanksgiving.