No other truth out there

Horror/fantasy preview-

"We promise! We promise! We swear!"

The screams were deafening, the cry of the multitude, all of them looking skyward while with terror filling their faces. Eyes bulging, mouths contorted, the horror filled them with fear unlike any fear they had ever felt before.

"WE PROMISE!"

And from the sky- thick with roiling black clouds, brilliant with lightening bolts blazing their almighty fiery torches everywhere, there came the thundering reply of acceptance.

The covenant was struck. The deal was sealed. The contract was binding. The people were saved.

Falling down where they stood, the people covering their heads with their arms, relief flowing through them. The worst was over.

Or was it...

The horror/fantasy movie recap-

Evil oppressors fill the land holding a multitude captive. A hero ruled by a supernatural force frees the people taking them away from their oppressors. The newly freed people commence on a perilous journey filled with the evil oppressors attempts to enslave them once more. With their enslavers thwarted they journey on until they come to the supernatural mount where the hero reveals that their freedom comes with conditions. The conditions however begin with the knowledge that they are free to choose either to accept the conditions or go about with their lives on their own risking enslavement once more, only the hero will no longer fight for them if they choose to live on their own.

The former slaves are fearful of being on their own without the hero's protection. They've witnessed the workings of the hero using the supernatural and know that it's best to hear the conditions out. Deciding that as long as the conditions aren't something detrimental to them, making them worse off than being with their previous oppressors, they'd accept them.

Gathering around the mountain of the hero's supernatural power, quickly the power is revealed in all its magnificence. A storm filled with thunder and lightening descends on the mountain as the people look on. This wasn't the first time the people had seen the power at work, they'd seen it as they were freed from their oppressors only now they are face to face with the source of the hero's power and it is terrifying them!

Pleading with the hero, asking him to intercede on their behalf and speak with the supernatural being for them, they continue to shake in fear, in awe of this force before them. The hero agrees and goes up into the storm of the mountain, fearless.

Finally the hero returns and tells them all the supernatural power demands from them and quickly the people agree to it all. There was nothing in the demands about being slaves to the supernatural power, nothing about feeling the whip of the supernatural being upon their backs day after day as they live in bondage. The supernatural being promises them a new life, a life filled with no more oppression and each of the demands the power is making upon them is for them and their own good! It's amazing! It's a dream come true! Of course they'll agree to such demands they'd be fools not to.

Peace filled the people and their new lives were to begin with their hero going to the supernatural being and receiving ALL the instructions they'd need for their new lives.

In a fairy tale the words, 'and they lived happily ever after', right here with the movie coming to an end would be perfect. Unfortunately the words are never uttered and in their place leading to the sequel of the tale are these words...

'And while the hero communed with the supernatural force, the newly freed people quickly grew restless and decided that all the demands they'd agreed to with the supernatural being weren't really meant to be kept. Some of the old ways of their oppressors were now theirs to use, and the ways of their former oppressors are all against the supernatural being demands. Breaking the newly established covenant could only have a dire outcome, look for part two in this continuing saga.'

What in the world does all this have to do with Bible study? With God?

Only that it's a true story, based on reality and truth, not fictional at all.

The Lord promised so much to the children of Israel and all He promised, all He said was truth.

Let's read as Joshua speaks to the children of Israel about this situation--


Joshua
{23:14} And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you;

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Not ONE thing failed that the Lord God told the children of Israel, not ONE thing.


{23:14} ...all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
{23:15} Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.


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Wait! What?! Why?!


{23:16} When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.


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That explains it doesn't it?

The truth is... we have choice God, and His covenant or life without God and that life without God has no happy ending.

It didn't have a happy ending then, and it won't in the future either.

All God says is true.

All God reveals comes to pass.

People make the mistake of thinking that the Bible is just a storybook without truth to support it, but history supports the prophecies inside the Bible. History is a testament to it's truth and the truth is, without the saving grace of God there is no hope. In accepting the saving grace of God we accept a new way of life, a life that will be slowly altered to be a life that will make heaven a place we long to live not mere fairy tale.

Eph. {4:17} 'This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, {4:18} Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: {4:19} Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. {4:20} But ye have not so learned Christ; {4:21} If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: {4:22} That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; {4:23} And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; {4:24} And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.'

Learned of Christ- the truth is in Jesus! Put off concerning the old man...be renewed in the spirit...put on the new man.

The truth.

Jesus is the truth.

And satan fills the earth with his lies deceiving all but those with such a love for the truth, for Jesus; those saved by His grace and alive to His righteousness.

May God help us all, we live in perilous times. Cling to Jesus...cling to the Savior's grace and mercy for there is no other truth out there, none.

Amen.