Are You Zealous for the Truth?

Perhaps the major weakness in most people's approach to religion is their lukewarm and careless approach to Truth. In our time of "political correctness"—of conforming to this world's society with its approach of "no absolutes"—some of you may consider this very unimportant. But learning, teaching and practicing the full Truth is enormously important to the God of the Bible!

Are you interested in what the great God who inspired the Bible says about this vital topic?

We at Tomorrow's World want to teach you the Truth! Anything less than that is actually dangerous—believe it or not. The Jesus Christ of the Bible said: "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). He said that if you, personally, wish to enter into eternal life, you must worship God in Truth!

What is the ultimate Truth about why we were born, the purpose of life and how to fulfill that supreme purpose? Jesus said: "Your word is truth" (John 17:17). Jesus Christ Himself said that the Holy Bible—God's word—is, in fact, the ultimate Truth from our Creator. He also told us: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Luke 4:4).

Throughout His ministry, Jesus constantly acknowledged as "Scripture"—as the inspired word of God—those books of the Bible that we today call the Old Testament. Referring to the Old Testament, He told the Jews: "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods'''? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)..." (John 10:34–35). So Jesus made it very clear that the Old and New Testaments—when correctly understood—do not contradict each other. For the New Testament is simply an expansion or "magnification" of the Old Testament (Isaiah 42:21, KJV).

Yet—perhaps without even realizing it—people today virtually "trash" the Bible in terms of what they actually believe and practice in their professed "Christian lives." Over the centuries, "mainstream Christianity" has devised countless false ideas, concepts and practices that are totally contrary to the clear teachings of the Bible! In nearly every issue of Tomorrow's World magazine, we point this out clearly from the Bible itself. We sincerely want to help all of our readers learn the full Truth of what the Bible actually says. And we ask you to prove what we say—right out of your own Bible! For Truth is very important to God! The Apostle Paul was inspired to describe a great false religious system—a system which would deceive the whole world—that was "already at work" when he wrote 2 Thessalonians 2:7. He wrote that this false religion would come "with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (v. 10). Bible prophecy shows that this system will soon manifest itself with great power and essentially take over the professing Christian world! The stakes involved are life and death! Please understand!

Using Paul's inspired phrase: Do you have the "love of the truth"?

God's word shows that most people will be swept away by "strong delusion, that they should believe the lie that they all may be condemned who did not believe the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:11–12). Paul was also inspired to warn us, in the final book he wrote: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Timothy 4:3–4).

That is a key reason why Paul earlier instructed Christians: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV). We all should genuinely study God's inspired word—not just carelessly read it, or merely read a few sentimental passages for comfort. We need to get out of our "comfort zone" and find out what our very Creator is telling us in His Instruction Manual—the Holy Bible!

A few years ago, U.S. News & World Report ran a very well-researched article on "Faith in America." After citing a number of studies and polls, the author noted: "Meanwhile, more than 3 in 4 Americans believe all religions have at least some elements of truth—even though few say they know much about religions other than their own. And nearly 70 percent think spiritual experiences are the most important part of religion. 'If one's religion is more about individual identity than doctrine or creed, it's a lot easier to be tolerant,' says Egon Mayer, a sociologist at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Gallup says that the high degree of religious tolerance reflects, in part, 'not only a lack of knowledge of other religions but an ignorance of one's own faith.' In some polls, he says, 'you have Christians saying, "Yes, Jesus is the only way" and also, "Yes, there are many paths to God." It's not that Americans don't believe anything; they believe everything'" (May 6, 2002).

Instead of drifting into that kind of confusion, we should be zealous in truly exerting ourselves to find out what the Bible actually says. In every part of your life, please remember this key principle: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Remember how God's word commended the Berean Christians for really studying and proving the Truth for themselves by diligent Bible study: "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

Please ask yourself: "How many hours a week do I personally spend watching television—the 'boob tube'?" Then ask: "How many hours a week do I spend actually studying the Holy Bible—the inspired revelation and Instruction Manual from my Creator?" Your honest answer to these important questions will probably be very instructive!

The point is that our Creator expects us to be zealous in seeking the Truth! For your own sake, please do not carelessly assume that "all religions are the same" or that "the majority is always right." Think! If the majority is always right, then we should not be Christians of any type, because about two-thirds of all human beings do not even call themselves "Christian."

That is why Jesus Christ said: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13–14). That is why the Apostle Paul wrote: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV).

My friends, we must become even more excited about learning the true way to eternal life than about who won the latest football game or popularity contest! This may seem obvious, but very few people have their priorities straight—even when their eternal life is involved.

We must all learn to be zealous—to be diligent—in seeking God, and in searching out and acting on the Truth. In his last letter, the Apostle Peter wrote: "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10–11).

Why do you believe the things you believe? Is it because you honestly and zealously studied the Bible with an open mind to find out the revealed Truth? From this day on, may God help you to do just that. As this present society around us begins to disintegrate, and as the powerful prophetic events predicted in the Bible begin to unfold with increasing speed, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to study and to genuinely prove to yourself the basic issues of life. Learn to be zealous for those things that really count!