S69P1 – Truth at work: liberating

John 8:31-32

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

For as long as he could remember he felt trapped.  It was not because he grew up in an oppressive family environment or because he suffered any great ridicule from his peers.  He usually had the freedom to choose what he wanted to do in life without much urging from his parents. There was little to no competitive pressure academically or otherwise. His issue was that he just felt trapped by his own self-destructive behavior.  He did not know enough to call sin what it is, but he certainly felt the effects of his sinful behavior in his life.  What he lacked was an understanding of how he could overcome that lack of self-control and its consequences.  It was when he met Jesus that he began to understand that he could be free from the trap.

There is some knowledge which we attain simply for the purpose of knowing it.  It may serve no practical purpose in our lives, but we feel better because knowing more things makes us more intelligent.  The truth that Jesus Christ makes available to us is not that kind of knowledge.  There is a purpose and a function behind his truth. Actually, there are many functions, but the main work of the truth of Christ is that it grants us freedom from every kind of evil bondage.  His truth saves us for eternity.  Regardless of how we feel about our lives, each person who does not know this truth remains shackled and trapped.  Christ’s truth exposes the lie from the enemy that there not only is no way out but also no reason to search for one.

When I was in first or second grade I would tell everyone I encountered that I could spell the word “computer”, then I would spell it with a smile on my face.  Although it was good for me to be interested in spelling and learning, that little piece of knowledge was just a tool for me to gain accolades from others.  That is really why I learned to spell that word, but it is not why we come to know the truth God teaches.  We learn his truth because it is necessary and valuable.  We learn his truth because we literally cannot survive without it.  We cannot pursue it for any other reason.  Father, thank You for the truth which sets us free from the bondage of this world and grants us an eternity with You.