The Truth

World, we have a problem. More fake-news, false narratives, and lawless days are coming. Midway through the first century Paul warned of a dark future, led by Satan and his minions.

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false [Greek, “the lie”], in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” [1 Thess. 2:9-12]. The Thessalonians had been told, falsely, that Christ’s second coming had already occurred. Paul said no. Before Jesus returns the “lawless one” who uniquely promotes “the lie” will come; and he still hadn’t arrived.

This is a key Bible theme. Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” [Is. 5:20]. In the New Testament we find an opposition of “the truth” versus “the lie.” In John 8:44, Romans 1:25, and Ephesians 4:25. Each has “the lie” [in the Greek] set over against “the truth.”

So here we are two thousand years later, and we still hope for the Son’s soon return. In 1970 a national best-seller, The Late Great Planet Earth, convinced many readers that Jesus might arrive in a few weeks or months. It was compelling as a Bible-referencing novel. And it helped stir many conversions to faith. Yet we’re still waiting for Jesus.

The Bible necessity that the lawless one comes first may have some active indicators today. In American public and political realms integrity is in decline. So the coming of a lawless one who will offer a host of unique powers to affirm his god-like status is plausible today. Matthew 24 also promises a coming “antichrist” who will oppose the true Jesus. The two prophecies are overlapped. And by now we have a world well-plowed by God’s enemy who hates truth.

So, the prophetic future is weighty. As the day of final judgment comes near it will seem that God has lost and Satan—the Serpent, the Prince of the Power of the Air, and the Devil—has won. Jesus, after a parable about God’s justice as set against the world’s broken ways, asked, “… when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” [Luke 18:8]. It’s a real question.

This fits with other Bible claims. In Christ’s temptation, for instance, Satan insisted his own rule is what shapes the world. “Again, the devil took him [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me’” [Mt 4:8-9]. It’s notable that Jesus did not reject the claim that “all these” kingdoms of the earth are under Satan’s rule. Nor did he worship Satan; and, in time, he was crucified. So a superficial reader might ask, “Did Satan win?” No, but the story is complex.

Satan’s largely unrecognized rule on earth was also affirmed by John and Paul. John, for instance, warned “… the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” [1 Jn 5:19]. And Paul wrote, “… you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” [Eph 2:1-3]. The “we all” and “the rest of mankind” are inclusive categories. Only Christians are excepted.

Of course, any notion that Satan maintains an ongoing rule over humanity clashes with modern thought. Most of the Western world, in fact, is functionally secular, dismissing both God and Satan. Most prefer Aristotle’s version of good and evil. He set out all of morality in terms of a “golden mean” between two extremes: as a middle zone between overt evil and extreme goodness. And he held that human free will—self-determination—navigates between good or evil. Morality is thus defined by making good moral choices in the moral-middle of society.

Aristotle’s assumption was that “We’re good enough as long as our lives are morally ordinary.” This then sets up spiritual dormancy. A view that life-in-a-moral-neutral-zone is safe and secure. And Christianity is only needed by those who want a safety net. As if God focuses on morality; and will only be reviewing “good deeds” as souls arrive at their post-death divine encounter.

Jesus, John, and Paul all dismissed this approach. Greek philosophy, Buddhism, and the like all miss the point when they presume humans to be essentially good. And Satan uses a neutral-middle-zone approach to life to drive most of his schemes. Paul warned, “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” [2 Cor 11:14-15]. The only sound measure of godliness, in fact, is our response to God’s love offered in Jesus. As Paul put it, “… whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” [Ro 14:23]. And faith must be based on Jesus.

This truth is affirmed, for instance, by Psalm two in the Old Testament—“kiss the Son.” And in John 14:6—”Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” So the glimpse Jesus offers of Judgment Day, in Matthew 7:22-23, fits in here: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Jesus—the creator and sustainer of all that is—personifies “the Truth.” And his opponent’s great “Lie” is a denial of Jesus as God’s Son and the only true Savior. Satan’s realm of death, against this, is pervasive and presently active on earth. So that only as one is “born again”—brought back to the life Adam discarded in Eden—with a love for Jesus, is eternal life assured.

All this shifts a Christian’s focus away from a widespread habit of defining events or choices as “good” or “bad.” Instead, the real question of spirituality is whether a given decision is “towards” Jesus. As in, “Jesus, do you mind watching this Netflix show with me?” Or, “… go with me for a coffee with someone who is hurting?” Or in any other choice we make.

Jesus used this form of morality in speaking to Pontius Pilate in John 18:37-38. “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” And Pilate flunked his great exam by answering Jesus, “What is truth?” In other words, he missed that fact that Truth was speaking.

So what? The bottom line is this: we either love Jesus and receive his ways and words. Or we can live in the Lie—whether by seeking a “golden mean” or by other rationalizations. Paul’s warning to those in Thessalonica seem to presume that those who “love the truth” were still holding back the coming day of darkness. I certainly want to be among such a band of souls!

So, let’s pursue the Truth, Jesus. He’s the satisfying source of love, joy, peace, patience, and more. Much, much more.