By Pastor Doug Cox

One day Jesus said to certain Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) In these verses Jesus gives us the key that does two things, one it produces disciples and two it produces spiritual freedom. That key is truth.

Jesus says His word is truth and we are to abide in it. To abide means to be continuously connected to it, holding on not letting go. In John chapter 15 Jesus uses a metaphor comparing Himself to a Vine and His followers to branches that need to stay connected to Him, to abide in Him. Obviously, a branch detached from the vine will wither and die and believers who detach from a steady intake of His word will wither spiritually. This should make us all realize how important it is to stay connected to God’s Word. It is truth that can make us free and keep us free.

One big problem is we can be deceived about what the truth is. There are all kinds of divides between people based on what they believe to be true or want to be true. Adolf Hitler said, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Millions believed Hitler’s lies, and many more millions died because of it.

In Luke 21 Jesus gave His followers a major sign of what would precede His second coming. In Luke 21 Jesus’ disciples asked Him “…when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place? And He said: Take heed that you not be deceived, for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He’… do not go after them.” In another place He said beware of false Christs for many will come in His name.

I grew up watching black and white television. There was a program called “To Tell The Truth.” A panel of 4 people were to decide based on answers given by 3 people, which one was telling the truth. At the end of each segment the host said, “will the real person stand up.” Many times, both the audience and panel were surprised to see they were wrong. They had been deceived. And so it will be at the end of the age. Billions of people who are following false Christs will find out they have been deceived. That day will come when the real Jesus descends from heaven to rule and reign on earth.

You don’t have to wait that long to find out. I have no doubt Who the real Christ is. It is He Who was born of a virgin, Who turned water to wine and walked on water. It is He who was tempted in every way and yet without sin. He is the One who died on a cross with stripes on His back, a crown of thorns on His head, and nails through His hands and feet. He was dead and buried and then on the third day rose again.

It will be this Christ who will reveal Himself at the end of the age. Not the brother of Lucifer. Not Budha or any other so called Savior. Not the Mahdi that millions of faithful Shia Muslims are looking for. The Shia Muslims believe their Mahdi will come forth in a world filled with chaos. They are willing to die to help the Mahdi come.

So what’s the truth? Well, the truth about the truth is – finding it can be hard, because you have to fight sometimes against the current of family traditions and religion. And there are politics and peer pressure and even arguments in your own head and feelings in your own heart. I suggest trusting what Jesus said. “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” When you experience freedom from guilt and shame because Jesus has washed it away, you know you are on the right track.