The whole reason I post Devotionals is to encourage the
Body of Christ to engraft Truth into their life. Let’s consider a question: What
happens when you won’t accept the truth?
First, we
must consider the motives for this refusal, then we will look at the
consequences. Our example will be those that had all the Data of theology, but
refused to accept it. The Jewish leaders were the best trained men in Israel on
the facts of the Messiah, yet when He came they refused to embrace that Truth.
The first motive is the root of all sin and is called the “great
sin”
by C.S. Lewis.
Pride
They would not believe that this could be the Christ. I
fear that even today a lot of theologians will argue with Jesus when He returns,
because they think He did it wrong! Sadly, many times we will not admit
something just because we are too proud.
John 7:45–52 The
officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them,
“Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the
way this man speaks.” The
Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? “No
one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? “But this crowd
which does not know the Law is accursed.” Nicodemus (he who came to Him before,
being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first
hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You
are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out
of Galilee.”
The result of this motive is always a fall - Maybe now,
but if not, for sure later!
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
The second motive finds its source in the lust of our flesh
Personal Gain It might cost us something.
Mark 15:9–10 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you
want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he was aware that the
chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
Results: there
are 4 results! Let’s look at the first one now:
1. Lose your integrity – When you will not face the Truth
you will lie - The Jewish leaders were going to protect the Romans. Refusal to
accept the truth sets up, strange alliances
Matthew 28:11–15 Now
while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported
to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with
the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the
soldiers, and said, “You are to
say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’
“And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep
you out of trouble.” And they took
the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread
among the Jews, and is to this day.
"In
its purest form, truth is not a polite tap on the shoulder. It is a howling
reproach. What Moses brought down from Mount Sinai were not the Ten
Suggestions. They are commandments. Are, not were. The sheer brilliance of the
Ten Commandments is that they codify in a handful of words acceptable human
behavior, not just for then or now, but for all time." Ted Koppel – “Night
Line“
We
will look at the other three next!
