The Truth Shall Make You Free!

The Truth Shall Make You Free!

theignorantfishermen.com

"
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"(John 8:32).

The practice (application) of Absolute Truth and Reality are essential for enjoying true freedom. Non-absolutes and partial realities bring but little satisfaction, which is accompanied with great burdens and bondage like battleship chains. Self-willed pride - along with self-willed rejection of Absolutes - always brings about tyranny and oppression in one's life. God sent His Son to awaken us to the absolute realities of time and eternity, and to deliver us from the bondage of self-willed decadence and unhappiness.
The Greek word “know” in this passage means “the possession of knowledge and wisdom that only comes through personal application or experience.”
Having just a theoretical understanding or “head knowledge” of a particular subject is surely limited, but the possession of wisdom and true discernment comes only through the applicationof knowledge in our lives.

"Absolute truth and reality are essential for enjoying true freedom"

For example, take two people in different situations who are otherwise equal: one an experienced private serving in the military and the other a cadet who has just graduated from West Point. By virtue of his actual experience, the private is in a practical sense wiser than the military cadet from West Point who has only studied the technical aspects of warfare.
The officer who has never been exercised in actual warfare or who has never applied his learning on the battlefield has no comprehension of the realities and first-hand experiences of combat. He has “zero experience" of functioning under hostile conditions and seeing the carnage of the battlefield. He is not battle-tested. He possesses no experience of being focused and steady under intense battlefield conditions. Although this officer may even have a good academic understanding (i.e., “head knowledge”) about war and what it entails, he has NEVER personally experienced war himself.
The private, on the other hand, does have actual combat experience and an appreciable comprehension of the battlefield. He has been exercised many times, and he has experienced first-hand the realities and horrors of war. He has applied his training in combat, which has given him a wisdom and knowledge that cannot be learned in a military academy or even in boot camp.
So it is for the child of Almighty God and the application of His Word. God expects His children(John 1:12) to apply His unchangeable and unfailing Word in their lives, and to experience (know) its benefits and realities. It is only through the application of God’s Word that we gain wisdom and knowledge that cannot be obtained by reading studies written by others such “Days of Praise” daily devotionals. The spiritual wisdom and knowledge that Paul prayed for the Colossians could only be obtained through the working of God and personal application of God’s Word in their lives(Col. 1:3-12). There are no shortcuts or spiritual "hocus-pocus” that can be substituted for these. Our Heavenly Father does not desire His children to live off the life experiences of others, but that we ourselves should taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalms 34:8; 1 Peter 2:3)

"The truth then possesses us and we are able to speak with authority, passion, boldness, confidence and to give an answer to all who would ask us of the hope that is in us!"

When we apply (know) the truth and reality of God in the “ups and downs” of our lives, and follow the remedies and formulas found in His Word, we enter into a realm of learning that transcends this earth. We enter into the spiritual realm of “higher education.” This "higher education" not only expands our heavenly vision and understanding, but it produces fruit (results) that are absolutely liberating and transforming to the child of Almighty God. The application of God's Absolute Truth sets us free indeed! Free from all worries, cares, fears, doubts, sorrows, earthly boundaries and temporality (time-boundedness), and - most of all - free from the King of all Fears, Death itself (Heb 2:14, 15). Standing by faith in full assurance of hope, these slave-masters no longer have the enslaving tyranny they once possessed over us. The truth then possesses us and we are able to speak with authority, passion, boldness, confidence and to give an answer to all who would ask us of the hope that is in us! (1 Peter 3:15). The Truth (reality) has truly made us free, liberating us to act because of a liberating inward experience!
Our Heavenly Father would have us all to be liberated here in time and to enjoy the wondrous riches that are only found in Christ Jesus His Son (John 8:36). May it be our sole desire today - and the desire of our soul - to have the experiential knowing of the eternal truths of God and to possess this liberating freedom.
Have faith in Almighty God! Be strong and of good courage! Endure hardness (hardship) as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:3). In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thess. 5:18). Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice (Philip. 4:4)! May it be so for you, dear reader! You will never be the same!
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
DJP I.F.