Hebrews 4:12 reminds us, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword…” Sometimes when we read God’s Word it will point out errors and sin in our lives – and it’s not always fun, it hurts at times. And sometimes, when we try to show what God teaches to others, they don’t want to hear it. But, it’s meant to hurt…it’s meant to make us want to stop doing what is wrong and start doing what is right. In today’s “religious” world, people don’t want to hear about sin and error, they only want to hear about prosperity and fun, and churches and preachers all over have turned to giving the people what they want, rather than giving them the truth. The sad thing is, that many of today’s preachers were brought up hearing what they want to hear, and so they don’t even realize their not giving the truth, because they don’t know the truth themselves. Like Jesus said, it has become the blind leading the blind.
True Christianity is not a club we join or something we do that will always make us and everyone around us happy. Sometimes it is painful, sometimes it costs us everything, and like Jesus said, if we’re not willing to forsake all and follow Him, we cannot be His disciples! I heard a very well known preacher in an interview once say that he didn’t preach about sin and judgement because “Well, people don’t want to hear that sort of stuff nowdays!” However, it doesn’t matter what people want to hear, what matters is the truth of God’s Word.
Jesus Christ didn’t say to those who questioned His authority or His teachings, “Wait a minute, let’s talk this through, maybe we can work this out. After all, I don’t want to offend you or make you unhappy!” NO…in fact He told those who questioned who He really was, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24) In other words, “This is the TRUTH…either you believe it and come to know Jesus Christ or else you will die in your sins and go to hell.” There is nothing else. We either believe complete TRUTH or we believe complete ERROR!
When I was in the hospital with cancer, and they were going to give me a shot of medicine, they didn’t say “Now you’re going to love this…it will be fun!” No, they said “This will hurt a little, but it will kill the cancer!” And that’s what TRUTH does in our lives it KILLS what is wrong and what is leading us astray. We can fight against the truth and ignore it, and die spiritually, or we can allow God’s Truth to impact and change our lives.