How Much Do You Love the Truth?

How much do you love the truth? The title of our sermon today, you could title it many things that describe the truth. We're going to be talking about the truth today, telling the truth, and how much that means, and the status of the truth in the nation today, and what about the status of the truth in the Church of God. So how much do you love the truth? What would you give for the truth?

Would you sell all that you have for the truth? Would you give your life for the truth?

The word truth has a special ring all of its own. To me, I just love the word truth. Did you tell the truth? There are very few words in any language that have the ring of the word truth.

Abraham Lincoln asked the question, how many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?

Well, it has four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg. But we have people today who are calling things various things, and they're arithmetic. Just doesn't add up. Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a great man who wrote many books condemning the action that Lenin, well, I don't know if he was writing at the time of Lenin, but Stalin and many of the Soviet dictators through the years. Eventually, he was able to get out of there, out of Russia.

He writes, man may burn his brother at the stake, but he cannot reduce truth to ashes.

He may murder his fellow man with a shot in the back, but he does not murder justice. He may slay armies of men, but as it is written, truth bears off the victory.

Another quote from Solzhenitsyn, we do not err because truth is difficult to see, it is visible at a glance. We err because this is more comfortable. And people would rather, in some cases, believe the lie than make the necessary changes for the truth.

Anonymous writes, unless your heart, your soul, and your whole being are behind every decision you make, the words from your mouth will be empty and each action will be meaningless. Truth and confidence are the roots of happiness. Truth is also the very foundation of freedom and liberty, as we shall see. Let's note these scriptures. Let's turn first of all to John, chapter 8. It is in the Gospel of John that the word of truth appears so often. We'll look at a few of these, three or four. In John chapter 8, verse 31, in John chapter 8, verse 32, which we'll read in just a moment, forms what I call the foundation for my theological center.

I wrote a paper back in 1990 called My Theological Center.

My theological center is based on Hebrews 11 and verse 6, without faith, it is impossible. He who would come to God must first of all believe that he is, and he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. And then going hand in glove with that is verse 32 here. We'll read this and talk about it for a moment with regard to the truth. In John 8 and verse 31, then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if you continue in my word, remember John 17, 17, your word is truth.

Sanctify them through your word, your word is truth. If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. That verse forms my philosophy of education, that education should be that education which frees humankind from fear, ignorance, superstition, and the dogmas of man. And there is only one kind of education that does that, and that is a true liberal arts education, that foundation is based on the Bible. If you remember that which was on the campus of Ambassador College in Pasadena, also out here in Big Sandy, the word of God is the foundation of knowledge.

The word of God is the foundation of knowledge. When the concept of liberal arts education was first founded in the Western world, the word liberal came from libidery, which meant liberty or freedom. It did not have to deal with a liberal offering, of course, because that's what some people think, that well, in a liberal arts education, you just have a little smattering all across the board so you know a little bit about everything.

But what it was really designed to do was for the free man so that he would be free, that he would be liberated in mind and spirit. When I walked on to the campus where I did my first bachelor's degree at Delta State University, it was I'd only been there a day or two and I looked up, I was walking toward the administration building, and I looked at this engraving over the door, and that engraving had a quote there that said, the state hath decreed that only free men shall be educated, but God hath decreed that only educated men are free.

See, the state has decreed that only free men shall be educated. That is, in that society where that began in Greece, that only the free man could be educated. The masses of the population were not educated, and most of them were illiterate. This concept of mass education is a new phenomenon and started in the United States. Jefferson said that in order to have a democracy, you need to have at least the ability to read and write and have a third-grade education.

Otherwise, you cannot vote or carry on the affairs of state in an intelligent manner. And to this day, basically, this system of mass education has gradually spread across the whole world. I was talking with Howard Davis, one of our ministers. He's pastoring in New York now. He went to Malawi for the feast. He and Mr. Dean, he's one of the poorest countries on the face of the earth, where about 90 percent of the people are illiterate. But this education of freedom, you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

See, the only true education is that that comes from the Word of God. Now, of course, you need an education in many other areas, but that education that frees mind and spirit so you know that you know and you are not enslaved by the doctrines of men.

Verse 32, They answered him, We are Abraham's seed, and we are never in bondage to any man. How say you, you shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. So you are in bondage. You're enslaved. See, man may put you in the darkest, deepest dungeon on the face of the earth. You may be a political prisoner or some other kind of prisoner, but man cannot take from you your mind and what you really believe and what you hold to be near and dear, the truth of God. And the servant abides not in the house forever, but the son abides forever.

The truth of God will stand the test of time, as we shall see, for all times, and has stood the test of time for all time. If the son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. And it's only through the truth about God and about His great plan of salvation, the sacrifice of Christ, which removes our sins as far as the east is from the west, that we can truly be set free.

Now go to John 14 in verse 6. Remember from John 13 to the end of the book of John, all the way through there, is taken up with the institution of the foot washing ceremony, the Passover, and then the crucifixion, resurrection, and Jesus Christ's appearance to them after the resurrection. In John 14 and verse 6, Jesus said unto him, in response to the question that Thomas asked in verse 5, said, Lord, we know not where you go, and how can we know the way? And Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life, and no man comes unto the Father but by me.

And as you heard in the heartfelt sermonette, that Jesus Christ says that he is the light of the world, and we are to be the light of the world, and light is likened unto truth in the Bible.

In John 15 and verse 26, well, let's read verse 26 here in John 14, because John 14, 26 identifies the Comforter. Now, the Greek word for Comforter, parakletos, and parakletos means one alongside a helper, and that helper is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a person. The Holy Spirit is the essence of God and Christ. The Holy Spirit is that Spirit which we have in us. We are partakers of the divine nature. So in John 14, 26, but the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things.

Comforter, parakletos is masculine, therefore the referent pronouns are masculine, doesn't make it a person. He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance. Whatsoever things I've said unto you. Now we go to John 15, 26, and we see the procession of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is one of the great teachers because it enables you to understand spiritual things and it enables you to understand that truth which is truly liberating. In John 15, 26, but when the Comforter is come, and we read from John 14, 26, that is the Holy Spirit, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, Talmuma, the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.

And you shall bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning.

Now you notice in verse 7 of chapter 16, the next chapter, 16 verse 7, Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter or the Holy Spirit will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will convict. I don't know if the New King James says convict or not. The Old King James says reprove.

The Greek word is elyncho, which means convict. To convict means to lay a weight on a person's mind and knowing within their conscience that a certain thing is true. It is the Holy Spirit and it is the Word of God that convicts a person.

But they have to hear the truth preached. And when he is come, he will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. Notice verse 13.

How be it when, in this case it should be it because Spirit of Truth is neuter, when if the Spirit of Truth is come, it will guide you into all truth, it shall not speak of itself, but whatsoever it shall hear, that shall it speak, and it will show you things to come. Now what it hears, it hears the truth. All of God's works are done in truth and in righteousness.

Now on the other hand, you can contrast what Satan has to offer.

And I'm especially reminded of this in times like we had this past week. It seems that at funerals and sometimes weddings or other occasions, you see people that you have seen through the years. Many of them have sat in your classes at Ambassador. Many of them have attended the Church of God for years. Many of them, quote, grew up in the church and attended church. Believe me, I know this story too well. And you wonder why? What is it? How could you walk in that way? How could you know that way? How could you be liberated in the true sense and then go back into bondage? Notice 2 Peter chapter 2. 2 Peter chapter 2. 2 Peter, here in chapter 2 of 2 Peter, somewhat catalogues from the flood down to Sodom and Gomorrah up to that time, some of the history of Israel, like in verse 15, about those who have turned away from the truth and walked in the way of unrighteousness. And almost in all cases, it has to do with some kind of being liberated or being free. And so very often, as has been the case throughout the history of the revelation of the truth from the time that God revealed the Sabbath to the present day, it seems that the Sabbath is to a large degree the great stumbling block because this society, Satan's world, revolves around the Roman calendar that has things turned upside down, where the seventh day, the Sabbath, is a work day, and so many things hinge on you being able to work on the Sabbath and so on. And very few people have the conviction, the commitment, and courage to step out and do those things that they need to do in order to be a true Christian and to be truly liberated. In 2 Peter 2.17, these are wells without water. And of course, you know how a dry well is. It's not very appealing. We passed over Lake of the Pines on the way to church up near Texarkana this morning, and I'm telling you, I was shocked. I mean, there are only two little main streams running through there. It is so dry. Water, of course, oftentimes symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. And of course, that is the fate of Satan and the demons. Outer darkness, blackness, no water, no hope, gone forever.

Probably better to be dead. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lust of the flesh, through much wantedness, those that were clean escape from them that live in error. Oh, the tempter is always there. And people, the human mind, can always come up with some kind of way that they think that they've justified themselves in turning from the truth. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption, for of whom a man has overcome, the same is he brought in bondage. And he goes on to say, it would be better for them that have never known the truth than to turn from it. And like the proverb, the sow is returned to our wallowing in the mud.

And so that is a sad situation. If it wakes me in more ways than you can imagine, and it's difficult to understand. See, the world cries out for liberty, for freedom, for peace, but they have rejected the way of peace. The scriptures say the way of peace, they know not.

James writes about walking in the perfect liberty, the perfect law of liberty. That's the way to be truly free. Paul writes in Romans 6, 16, Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.

One of the principle reasons why people will shade the truth, spin the truth, and outright lie is to make themselves look good and preserve their standing with their peers.

We see so much of this going on today. It starts all the way at the top with political correctness, and if anyone dares to step outside the bounds of political correctness, the media, the politically correct media, the mass media is on him, as they say, like white on rice, and there is no place for them to turn. And so many have bit the dust because they dare to stand up for what they are convicted in their hearts is right, and which can be verified by the Bible. But no matter, you know, they talk about a woman's reproductive rights. And what that when it really gets down to it, that means abortion. And so even partial birth abortion has been okayed. Partial birth abortion, you can stop up your ears if you don't want to hear this. Of course, the head comes forth, and then the back of the skull is punctured, and they suck the brains out. What about the rights to kill? What we have done is make a law that makes it legal to kill, to murder. And yet, at the same time, wrap ourselves in some kind of cloak of righteousness and go our merry way and say that we have the best interest of the people at heart. But what about the best interest of that life that we just snuffed out? In John chapter 9, we see an example of how people will conform to the peer pressure and the fear of the masses. Of course, in Judah at that time, if you were cast out of the synagogue, your life was just about over, you became a pariah.

John chapter 9 deals with the story of the man who was born blind, and Jesus came along on the Sabbath day, and he healed him, and he had his sight. In verse 18, John 9, 18, But the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. They asked him, saying, Is this your son who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?

And his parents answered to them and said, We know not, we know that this is our son, and that he was born blind, but by what means he now sees we know not, or who has opened his eyes we know not, he is of age, ask him, he shall speak for himself.

These words spoke his parents because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

So the people wouldn't even say, who healed their very son for fear of being cast out of the synagogue.

We have a situation today in which virtually everyone is being ruled over by tyrannical peer group going all the way from the White House down to the kindergarten where we have bullying all the way through. And if you don't conform to that, then you become the target, like a sore-headed chicken in a chicken pin that everybody pecks on until the person becomes so discouraged or upset or whatever, many have committed suicide.

It's the kind of country that we live in. With the mass media today, you step out of balance just a little bit, and then not only is it aired on the networks, then it's on Facebook and all the other social media. And here we go.

Who is going to stand for the truth?

Let's go now to Galatians chapter 5, because sadly, I don't know, I've wondered at times, how did this come to be in the Church of God?

See, the Church of God, all the way from it went all the way back to the days of Cain and Abel, where Cain was jealous of Abel. Invious, slew him, because Abel's offering was accepted and Cain was not.

The days of Moses, the murmurings against him, various rebellions, the time of Jesus Christ, he was betrayed.

The time of Paul, in which several times he barely escaped with his life.

The time of the apostles, even during the foot washing and institution of the new covenant symbols for the Passover, they got into an argument over who was the greatest. And it just seems that, see, that is a part of Satan's way.

Satan tried to unseat God to be the greatest, the highest. We talked a little bit about that last week concerning developing a childlike attitude. But it seems that people have wanted to, quote, climb the ladder. So here's the truth of the way God views things. God is more interested in how we get there than he is where we are. With regard to office status or anything like that, how did you get there? Did you follow the principles that are laid out in this book, or did you get it some other way? Galatians chapter 5 verse 14, For all the laws fulfilled in one word, even in this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Now, verse 1 John 4, verses 16, 17, 18, and on down into 1 John 5, 1, and 2, talks about how can any man say that he loves God and loves not his neighbor? They are like reciprocals. You can't love your neighbor without loving God, and you can't love God without loving your neighbor. So if you completely fulfill one, you're going to, like axiomatically, fulfill the other.

But if you abide and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another.

And basically, that's what's happened. And one of the main reasons why the churches of God are scattered, and those who say that they are people of God, and some people wait hoping that it's almost like they hope that somebody will say something that is, quote, out of bounds or out of line so that they can rush and tell somebody else. You know that you can destroy—now, here's another side of truth—you can destroy a person by, quote, telling the truth. Well, I know this about this person. My brother and I, we had breakfast there in a little cafe over there in Mississippi before we came back here after the feast, and we were sitting there. These two guys were there. He said, well, oh, so-and-so came in here last night. You know this guy that he works on houses around here, and he told us the sins of everybody that ever lived in this county. Well, you don't know whether that's true or not, but he had all the inside scoop. Now, what the Bible says, he that conceals a matter, he that conceals a matter, if a person goes wrong, you want to go to that person.

If it is wrong, you want to go to that person and get it cleared up if you can, and if not, follow all the biblical steps in reconciliation.

Verse 16, this I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. And then it goes into all the various behaviors of the lust of the flesh.

Now, some people do this in the name of righteousness. You know, probably Judas thought he was doing in the name of righteousness. Well, you could have had this money, and you could have given it to the poor.

Or that some think, well, I'm going to save everybody by doing this, that, or the other.

Look at James chapter 5, the last two verses in the book of James, just to caution about, quote, well, it's the truth.

Yes, we want to tell the truth, and that's what we're talking about today. But you don't want to use truth as a weapon against someone.

I'll show you here. You remember that scripture in 1 Peter 4, 8 that says that love will cover a multitude of sins?

Here's how it will do it. It won't do it by just saying, oh, I love you. I love you. I really love you. And you know the truth about a matter, and you will not confront a person with it, but rather tell somebody else. Now, in James 5, 19, brethren, if any of you are from the truth, and one, convert him. Now, this convert here, this word is not the same as like a change of heart and all of that that has to do with conversion in the sense of what God and Christ can do in the Holy Spirit.

This word is epistrifo, E-P-I-S-T-R-E-P-H-O. E-P-I, E-P-I-S-T-R-E-P-H-O. Epistrifo means to turn him about. If any of you do err from the truth and one turn him about, let him know that he which turns him about, turns the center about from the air of his way, shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins. And say, this is how love that you love your neighbor so much.

You see, if we use the analogy of the church as the body of Christ, and like Paul talks about in Ephesians 5, that no man ever yet hated his own body, but he will nourish it and cherish it and try to take care of it. Now, if we are in the body of Christ, and we were instructed in 1 Corinthians 12 to have the same love, care, and concern for one another, and it is the body of Christ, and Paul precedes this with the analogy of the head and the hands and the toe and all of that, that how all of the parts are necessary. And if one member is hurting, it all hurts. The pain in the big toe makes you feel really bad. And so, the same if you harm that body of Christ, what do you expect? What do you expect to get? How do you think God views it? See, there's something that's not quite connected with that. Now, here's the good news of what I believe that in recent times, and especially, I believe here, that we are getting the picture and understanding it and showing this. But don't ever let anybody take you away based on that. That is, I know something bad about somebody, and I'm going to tell you the truth about it, and you destroy that person and thereby also destroy yourself. In the course of human history, there have been very few people who are willing to pay the price for telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We're familiar with the parable concerning the Pearl of Great Price. Let's notice that. Matthew 13, the field and the pearl, in Matthew 13.

These several parables here about what the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven is like.

We could liken the kingdom of God to the truth because it cannot enter the kingdom of God if you don't know the truth and do the truth. In Matthew 13.44, again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field, the which when a man has found he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. So once again, how valuable is the truth to you? What would you give for the truth? Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who when he hath found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. You know, we are familiar with Luke 14, or maybe we're not, verse 25.

It's turned there. We go over this in baptismal counseling. The person who counseled you for baptism, I'm quite sure, brought this up, talked with you about it. That is, counting the cost We'll focus on two or three verses.

Luke 14, 25, and there went great multitudes with him, and he turned and said unto them, in other words, here you are, a lot of people are following me.

You know what you have to do to follow me?

If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, loveless by comparison, as we know, love not less his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yes, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple. And then he talks about counting the cost, using physical analogy to illustrate counting the cost. In other words, you have to surrender all, and you can't hold anything back. Now you look at Revelation 12. In Revelation 12, and it seems that we're getting closer and closer to the time. And in fact, surely the Satanic forces are being unleashed, especially in the Western world. And they've been running rampant in the Eastern world with false religion for centuries, yea, even millennia, not even knowing the truth.

In Revelation 12.9, the great dragon was cast out that O serpent called the devil and Satan, which is deceiving progressive tents, the whole world. He was cast out in the earth. His angels were cast out with him. If you look at the entertainment world, you see the previews that come across your television screen. I mean the most weird kind of looking creatures that you can imagine, and demoniacal kind of faces, and all kind of activity, destruction, violence, and weirdness.

Weird wolves and all that stuff. I mean there's no end to it. It's like they produce almost nothing that has to do with reality. And as we approach now, Halloween. I see a sign on the way back. Haunted House, October of whatever date, 31 I guess, last day of October's Halloween. And so we're going to call up the spirits. We're going to play with the devil.

I don't know what's wrong with people. I heard a last voice saying, in heaven, now has come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ, for the accuser of the brethren is cast down, who accuses them before our God day and night. You remember the story in Job chapter 1, where one day Satan came to the throne of God, and God said, where have you been? He said, well, I've been walking to and fro on the earth. And God said, have you considered my servant Job, that there's not a man like him, one who is to use evil upright in all his ways? And Job said, well, it's because you put a hedge around him. You protect him. You blessed him with all kinds of riches and goods and all that. No wonder that he's faithful to you. Well, God said, okay, I'm going to take the hedge real away. You go to Job, and you know the story. First of all, he took away possessions, even his family, except his wife.

And Job still remained faithful in the sense he would not curse God. And then Satan came back and said, well, you let me at him. If you let me afflict his body, then he'll curse you to your face. And God said, you can do it. Just don't take his life.

And of course, then the weakness of Job was revealed that he justified himself instead of justifying God. This could be happening to me because I am so righteous. And why would God do that to a righteous man? Well, it was to help him see himself that he must be judged and God justified.

So when the brethren are being accused, you know who's behind it.

It's very clear in Scripture. Verse 11, our key for right here, and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. How do you overcome him by the blood of the Lamb?

Well, it's through the blood of the Lamb that we can be set free, that our sins can be removed as far as the east is from the west. First John 2, verse 1, says, if any man sin, he has an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

So Jesus Christ continues to plead our case. We repent of our sins, and it says in chapter 1, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of all unrighteousness. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony.

In Luke 21 and also other places in the Bible to talk about, especially Luke, called out before kings and governors, and it shall turn to you as a testimony.

Think not what you shall say, but the Spirit shall give you utterance in that time.

At that time, you want that testimony to be true.

I've often thought, what if I were called up, and in my life, you either recant your faith or you die?

There have been people through the course of human history who have died and martyred them, who do not know the truth, as we know the truth. They were convicted of certain things of God, William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English, eventually was burned at the state for doing that.

False charges brought against him.

One of Martin Luther's friends, you know, Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation, breaking away from the Catholic Church. One of his friends was martyred, and Luther's song about God as my fortress was written in honor of that martyr. There have been many others through the course of human history. See, when we go to testify in court, this word testimony in the Greek is maturia, M-A-T-U-R-I-A, and it means record witness testimony.

If you're called into witness at a court hearing, they ask you to raise your right hand. They used to ask you to place your hand on the Bible. They don't do that anymore.

Raise your right hand and do you solemnly swear, and you could say, I affirm, you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

And so, God is expecting us to always tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.

And by the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives unto the dead.

Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them, woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea. For the devil has come down unto you having great wrath, because he knows he has but a short time. And so, we can expect demonic activity and this world to continue to unravel at the seams, and for chaos and confusion to continue to be rampant. But we have sure anchors of the soul that we can cling to. So, we could always say, do we love the truth to the point that we're willing to die for it? You know, Jesus asks a question in Matthew 16, 26, and I think about a lot of people, some of whom are my very close relatives, friends. Of course, most of my relatives have never been baptized. They know some of the truth, know a lot of what we believe, and so on, but they want to stay at least arm's length away from it. They don't want, because they know in order to embrace it, they would have to give up the physical things that they now really enjoy, whether it be their job, their career, or food, or standing in the community, or whatever you might say. But Jesus Christ says in Matthew 16, 26, so what is a man profited? What profit is it? If he will gain the whole world and lose his own soul, his own life essence, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul, his life essence? So let's say that you're president of the U.S.

The maximum terms, eight years. So they're saying that the U.S. president is the most powerful man in the world. So you get eight years at the top of the heap, as it were. So what good is that after eight years? Or let's say, well, you continue to be on the banquet trail, and you give speeches, you get a hundred thousand speeches, maybe William Jefferson Clinton does, or others.

And by 80 or 90, something we may live to be 100, I don't know.

It's all over. Is that all there is to it? Was it worth it? Was it worth it? So, brethren, I hope that we're all very convicted of and will stand for the truth. You know, human beings are incredibly skilled at shading and spinning the truth to suit their perceived needs. Incredibly, religious people will spin the truth of the scriptures and other information to try to make it fit their view of the truth or their doctrine oftentimes in an attempt to justify what they're doing and, in some cases, knowing that it's wrong.

Let's go once again to 2 Timothy 4, the admonition to Timothy that Paul writes here, applicable to all of us, because in one way or another, all of us are teachers. 2 Timothy 4 Let's go up and read verses 16 and 17, because I'll make a comment or two here with regard to that. I read John 3, 13, and I know this is the way my relatives view things.

And I've told the story before about my mother. She read the correspondence course, and she is one of the best Bible students I've known in a certain way as far as faith and diligence and trying to live by it, but it just seemed like the blinders could never come off.

But finally she told me one day, well, son, if I could find a Baptist church and went to church on Saturday, I'd go to it. So people pick and choose, and most of them have never read the Bible from cover to cover, and if they have, for some reason, they just didn't get it. For example, John 3, 13. John 3, 13 says, No man hath ascended into heaven except the Son of Man which came down from heaven.

So no, the loved ones are not looking down on you during the funeral or any other time. Or, as Peter said in Acts 2, 2. David hath not ascended into the heavens. He is buried and his sepulchre is with us to this day. There it is. For David hath not ascended into the heavens.

But Jesus Christ has, and he sits on the right hand of the Father. 2 Timothy 3, 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 3 So I charge you therefore, in view of that, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing in his kingdom, preach the word. 4 John 17, 17. Again, your word is truth. John 6, 63. The words I speak, they are spirit and life. Preach the word, be incent in season, out of season, reprove, that's that Greek word, elancho, convict, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound teaching, but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.

And they shall turn away their ears from thee truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Just tell me the story that is soothing, that is smooth, that doesn't challenge me in any way, that does not prick my heart, that makes me feel good, that I get somewhat of an emotional lift.

Tell me that story. Look at Isaiah chapter 30, and Isaiah chapter 30, in verse 8.

Isaiah 30, verse 8. Now go write it before them in a tablet and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever, that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Eternal, which say to the seers, see not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us, write things, speak unto us, smooth things, prophesy deceit. I would rather hear some smooth story. Well, inspirational stories are good up to a certain point. I like inspirational stories. We all do, and it does give us some lift.

But that in and of itself is not going to save us. Get you out of the way. Turn aside out of the path. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel, because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverse-ness and stay there upon. Therefore, this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly at an instant. So, of course, God is not mocked, whatsoever man sows, that it shall also reap. And as the old saying goes, eventually the chickens will come home to roost.

One of the greatest virtues of any person is intellectual honesty, for which many have been ridiculed, made fun of, but to be willing to tell the truth, not to spin the truth. Some say, well, when you begin to talk about intellectual honesty, you're talking about intellectualism and so-called worldly scholarship. Well, if you're talking about intellectual honesty, to me you're talking about God. Look at Psalm 33 and verse 4. Psalm 33 and verse 4. There are other Psalms along this line, but we'll read this one here, Psalm 33 and verse 4.

For the word of the Eternal is right, and all his works are done in truth. All his works are done in truth. There are pseudo-intellectuals who think that the truth is contained in the nuance of language, or verb tenses, and the social structure of the day.

But Jesus Christ says that he is the living Word in John 1.1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1.14 says, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Hebrews 1.1 says that in different ways and different times God spoke to us by the prophets and dreams and visions, but in these last days as spoken to us by a Son, the living Word of God. And so the living Word of God, we would do well to heed the living Word of God.

Paul writes in Hebrews 13.8, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. See, the truth is timeless. What was true 5,000 years ago, or 100,000 years ago, is true today in the spiritual sense.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. Now, that doesn't mean that God has dealt with humankind in the same way through every period of history. He dealt with Adam and Eve in a certain way in the Garden of Eden. He dealt with the pre-flood world in a certain way. He dealt with the patriarchs in a certain way with Israel and so on. He came up to the time of the church age, which we're in now, and then it's revealed that the only way...

See, people talk about us saying, well, you are dispensationalist. Now, we have always taught what Acts 4, 12 says, and that is, there is none other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved. There is only one way. The way is exclusive. The way is exclusive. There's just one way.

But the opportunity is inclusive. It includes everybody who has ever lived and have the opportunity to be in the family of God. The Word of God is not changed by the social conditions of the day. And as I said, the truth is timeless. Look at Psalm 100, Psalm 100, verse 5. Psalm 100, verse 5. And Psalm 100, verse 5. For the Eternal is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations. Now, there are other scriptures along these same lines.

We're admonished by Paul in 2 Timothy 2, 15, show yourself a workman, show yourself a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. So we have to be truthful in handling the Word of God. There could be no higher compliment paid to you or I than to say, he, she is an honest person.

So what about us? Are we willing to pay the price to seek out the truth, defend the truth, to tell the truth, even if it causes you to lose your standing with your peers and maybe even cost your life? See, you cannot worship God apart from the truth.

Look at this, John 4, 23. See, so many people will go to church tomorrow, and they call it worship services. They will put on the banner out there, worship services, 11 a.m. It's under school, maybe 9 30 10, whatever it is, worship services, 11 a.m. or whatever they put out there is the time, and claim that they are worshiping God. I'm amused. Well, maybe I shouldn't say that. In John 4, verse 23, But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers, the true worshipers, shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

For the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Brother and I hope that that's what we're doing, that we're seeking the truth, we're living the truth, we're willing to die for the truth, we understand the value of the truth, and that we will use the truth at all times in the right way. I'm going to read one more psalm, and we'll quit Psalm 15. It sort of summarizes everything we've said today to some degree.

Psalm 15. Who shall dwell on your holy hill? A quick summary of who will be there.

Psalm 15, beginning verse 1. Lord, who shall abide in your tabernacle? Who shall dwell in your holy hill?

He that walks uprightly and works righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart.

He that backbites not with his tongue nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor, in whose eyes a vile person is condemned, but he honors them that fear the eternal.

Proverbs 8.13 says, a fear of the eternal is to hate evil.

But he honors them that fears the eternal. He that swears to his own hurt and changes not. He that puts not out his money to usury nor take reward against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved.