For today’s post, let us begin with Jesus’ words found in the Gospel of John: “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). What does “truth” mean in John 14:6? The Greek word for truth in this verse is “alētheia” which means, “the truth, as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man; I am he in whom the truth is summed up and impersonated.” When we accept the call to follow Jesus our eyes behold how the truth is found in Jesus, for He is the Truth. However, before we accept the call, our eyes are blind to the truth, and therefore, what one views as truth when lost is a perversion.
So how should we, as Christ followers who know the Truth live and respond in a world filled with those who do not know the Truth? Jesus later in the Gospel of John prays for His disciples. In His prayer is the answer to how. Jesus prays,
“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:15-17).
- Call to Remain. Jesus specifically asks the Father in verse 15a not to remove His disciples from this world. Why? Because when we accept the call to follow Jesus, there is work He has for us to do on this earth and this work entails making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).
- Set Apart. Jesus states in verse 16 how His disciples are not of the world but rather live in it. What does not be of the world mean? As Jesus’ disciples, we are called to be salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13-16).
How are we to be salt and light to the world? If you are in the United States of America, then you are familiar with the tension which arises surrounding topics such as politics, racism, religion, or sexuality. Take a moment to reflect on your thoughts and responses on these topics towards how those of the world view what they see as the truth. Do you express anger towards them because they do not see how their perspective is not in alignment with the Truth of Jesus and His ways? If so, does this anger reflect Christ or does it reflect the world? Remember we are called to live in the world not of it, which means how we respond should not look the way the world responds.
- Sanctification through the Word. In addition to our external work to make disciples, as Christ followers, we are on the lifelong journey of internal work to become more like Christ. Work is not easy; even so, the Holy Spirit is patient with us by working in us daily to transform our minds (Romans 12:1-2). How does He do this? The more we grow in our relationship with the Lord by spending time with Him in the Word, the more our minds think about things that please the Spirit versus our flesh.
Reader, the truth is Jesus is the only way to the Father and the only way we can experience eternity with Him, for He died on the cross for all our sins. This truth is revealed to those who accepted the call to follow Jesus. We are not the ones who can open anyone’s eyes to the Truth; even so, the Lord wants us to be part of the process of the lost being found.
Therefore, let us embrace our mission, as followers of Christ to go make more disciples. Let us truly represent Christ to the world by how we think and speak all the while let us allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify us as we grow in deeper intimacy in our relationship with the Lord.
All Bible verses are from Holy Bible: English Standard Version