The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Grace H. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Truth
Truth is the very essence of God. There would be no truth in this world unless it was from God. Today people have countless different definitions of truth. Some don’t even believe it is necessary to speak or act the truth, while others blame their sin on the circumstance, saying "if I wasn't put in that hard position I would have told the truth," or "if I had the same situation as him over there it would have been easier." Even when others are not aware of our sins, we still make excuses to justify ourselves and deceive ourselves into thinking it was for a righteous cause. 1 John 1:8: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
Truth is one of the most important qualities of a Christian. If there is no truth in our hearts then no one will trust us. In Phi 4:8 it says ,"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Since there are so many lies circulating in our culture we must envelope ourselves in truth.
Not only should we remind ourselves of truth, we should be showering others in the truths of the Bible to help ourselves and them from falling into deception. John 17:17a says, "Sanctify them in the truth." Satan is constantly trying to deceive us by telling us the lies we want to hear and twisting the truth bit by bit. In a prophecy of the end times it says, "It (Satan) will throw truth to the ground," Daniel 8:12. But we must stand firm, "for sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace," Romans 6:14.
There are many examples in the Bible where people have fallen from the truth, like Romans 1:25a," they exchanged the truth about God for a lie," or 2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." Also in Isaiah 59:14-25 it says, "Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter."
Jeremiah 7:27-28 gives a good example of the punishment for not following the truth, "So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. And you shall say to them, 'This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips." Although all of this is hard to fight we must, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9.
And finally, "Behold, you delight in truth," Psalm 51:6. Seek the truth for it is a worthy goal. Cling to it as you would precious jewels for it is a mighty gift. "I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father," 2John 4. Then in that last day when all will be judged, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth," 2 Timothy 2:15. So keep up the fight because Jesus says, "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," John 18:37-38.
