“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.”
in the present truth
The idea of “in the present truth” is the truth is present within us through instruction from our pastor-teacher. The thought is not the truth presently under consideration.
“Truth” is the reality underlying the appearance of the issue; it is the manifested, veritable essence of the matter (Ro 9:1; 2 Co 11:10; Ga 2:5).
Ga 3:1, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?”
“Truth” here is the deposit of faith (Ju 3).
Jude 3, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Truth is something we can possess and never lose. We spend time with what we love. The person we love goes with us everywhere we go. Truth goes with us everywhere we go as well. If we love the truth, we will spend time with the Word.
Stability here is not human solid character or security. The stabilizer here is the Word of God. Some people try to find stability in a bank account; however, they can have a lot of money and still be unstable. Success is not the stabilizer of life either. Friends or a great social life will not give us stability. Health, sex, material things, or status symbols will not stabilize our walk with God. Only the Bible gives us that stability before God (Mt 4:4). If we put God’s Word first and His principles for living, then we can enjoy money, success, and all aspects of life.
People make a significant mistake if they depend on loved ones to give them stability. They may think they have the most beautiful romance in the world or the love of the century. The problem with people is that they can change every hour on the hour. We fool ourselves if we think that people can give us stability. We will wind up perpetually unhappy.
Many lonely hearts burst their fantasy in the reality of life. Some think, “all I have to do is get married, and my troubles will be over.” No, that is when your troubles begin! Marriage is our opportunity to grow up. That is when you begin to find out what adult troubles are like. If you want perpetual youth, don’t get married! This is not to say that marriage is a horrible institution; it is not. I am not as cynical as that. No, the point is that stability comes from the Word of God and not from people. Why? Stability comes from the Author of the Word of God. He designed everything. He designed you. God designed your marriage.
Instability is the norm of our day. Our society is unstable as water. The things of life are here today and gone tomorrow. Our relationships are here one day and gone another day. We laugh one moment and cry the next.
PRINCIPLE:
There is no way to adequately live the Christian life apart from Scripture.
APPLICATION:
The means to effect confirmation in our souls is the Word of God. The Word of God is our chart, compass, bill of rights, and only infallible rule of faith and practice. We cannot live the Christian life without the Bible.
We may have a good, nice, or even beautiful life, but it may not be a genuine Christian life. Just any kind of life that is gentle, kind, and even loving is not the Christian life. Anything less than what the Bible describes as the Christian life is not Christian.
The difference between Christians is the ratio to which they yield their lives to Christ. He can do more for some Christians than others. Some of us are very stubborn; we do not give up easily. We want to handle our lives and not allow Him to control us. Although they may not be sinful, some things are beneath the dignity of the child of God.
Life is mutable. Immutability only comes from the immutable One. God’s Word gives stability in an unstable world. Age does not make us not stable. Eventually, wrinkles will come. Corrective surgery will only last for so long. Only the truth is eternal, and only truth can sanctify.
Jn 17:17, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
