From those who suppress the truth
Do people bug you? If you’re like me, you probably answered with a resounding, "Yes".
If you answered, "No," write to me, and I’ll introduce you to some very interesting folks I happen to know.
Jokes aside, my real question is what do you do when people hurt you in some way? Do you take revenge, ever so subtly?
When we take revenge do you really know what we’ve done? We’ve exchanged the truth of God for a lie. Let me explain.
Rom 12:19 reveals a truth about God.
Rom 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.
The truth revealed in Rom 12:19 is that God will avenge us.
But if we say, "I don’t believe that. Therefore, I will avenge myself," what have we done? We have exchanged this truth about God for a lie just as it is written in Rom 1:25.
Rom 1:25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Specifically, when we believe that God will not avenge us, and then go ahead and avenge ourselves, our unrighteous action results in suppressing this particular truth about God. The truth is suppressed because we didn’t give God an opportunity to show that He does indeed avenge us.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Now if I am exchanging the truth of God for a lie and suppressing the truth in unrighteousness do you really think that God is going to reveal truth to me? As I said earlier, God does not throw pearls to swine. In fact, Rom 1:18 says that the wrath of God will be upon such people.
For this reason, we need to be careful. Specifically, when we read truth about God in the Bible we need to really meditate upon it and practice it. Otherwise we will end up suppressing it and incur the wrath of God and in addition be deprived of receiving more truth.
We need to be particularly careful about having jealousy and selfish ambition. Consider Jas 3:14.
Jas 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
If you are really about building your own kingdom, you’re full of selfish ambition. If you are comparing your kingdom with that of others and want to be bigger than them then you’re full of jealousy. Now if you are honest and admit that that’s where you are there’s hope for you. However, if you really think you’re very spiritual even when you are fully of jealousy and selfish ambition then you are arrogant and are lying against the truth. In such a case you cannot receive truth. You’ll end up thinking that God is your servant, ready to build your kingdom and give you the biggest and best of material things.
To summarize, you can’t receive truth if you suppress truth, lie against it, and exchange it for lies.
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