Life is a learning journey seeking truth

....and when you "experience truth" ....you have inner peace, calm and contentment.

Okay, I'm repeating myself, but this is really important....

There are a lot of voices in life wanting our attention — some good, some not so good.  YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHAT IS NOT.  Because "what" you believe influences the choices you make in life.

As this road sign illustrates, our journey through life gives us a lot of choices ....with right turns, left turns, and straightaways.  And if you make a mistake, there may be some turnarounds....

Speaking from my old guy's perspective, ....get help from the experience and wisdom of others, ....consider it, ....and then make your own choices.  Having said that, there is....
‍....One Voice WHO WILL ALWAYS TELL YOU THE TRUTH,
....One Who we can TRUST and FOLLOW, ....and His Name is JESUS!

As you travel life's journey with Jesus, ....ask Him to help you LEARN WHAT IS TRUE ....and what is not.  WHY?, ....so you can LIVE BY HIS TRUTH, ....and make good choices in life, .......choosing to spend Eternity with Jesus in Heaven.  

As Jesus said,....

"....true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
    — John 4:23-24 NLT

Well, ....it started with.... "Did God really say....?"

It was cunning deception from the Devil.  And he has been doing it basically the same way ever since, because it works so well on us humans, ....when WE WANT TO LIVE INDEPENDENT OF GOD ....and don't believe and follow His truth.  ....WHEN WE BECOME PRIDEFUL ....and want to "BE LIKE GOD".‍

Our lives depend on being aware spiritual warfare is real....

‍As Jesus said....

Satan "...was a murderer from the beginning.  He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies."
    — John 8:44 NLT

....and Apostle Paul said it this way....

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God's armor so that YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST ALL STRATEGIES OF THE DEVIL.  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
    — Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT

‍To know more, see Chapter 17: "The battle belongs to God", as we discuss....

How did spiritual warfare start?

What does spiritual warfare look like?

And we must also know....

....and that stated in scripture ....looks like this....

I pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of GOD'S POWER FOR US WHO BELIEVE HIM. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Now he (Christ) is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.  God has PUT ALL THINGS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST and has made him head over all things FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHURCH ("ekklesia", see Strongs G1577: ....the body of Christ is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ, ....1 Cor 12:27; Rom 12:4-5; Col 1:18).

‍And the church is his body; it is MADE FULL AND COMPLETE BY CHRIST, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
    — Ephesians 1:19-23 NLT

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Think about it.  Know and understand....

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God knew, ....and gave us Jesus, the Word of God....

....for OUR SPIRITUAL PROTECTION, ....when we live by HIS TRUTH....

Our weapons in spiritual warfare....

"....are not of this world, but are POWERED BY GOD and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His TRUTH.  WE ARE demolishing ARGUMENTS and IDEAS, every high-and-mighty PHILOSOPY that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. WE ARE taking prisoners of every THOUGHT, every EMOTION, and subduing them into obedience to Jesus."
    — 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The Voice

It is by God's TRUTH, the Word of God, ....HELP FROM JESUS HIMSELF, ....that is how we win ANY and ALL spiritual battles!  .......It starts here.

Which leads us back to THE question....

So, ...."What can I believe is true?"

....is this chapter's topic.  ....Certainly seems appropriate to ask this question again, considering trends in today's world news events.  ....So, ...."WHAT?" and "WHO?" can we believe in, ....and WILL TELL US TRUTH?  How do we find HELP FOR MAKING LIFE'S CHOICES?  ....How can we find PEACE and HOPE in life?  Such would be really important to know!

"Grandpa, why trust the Bible so much?"

....Glad you asked.  SMILE....  I have 4 good reasons for you to CONSIDER THE BIBLE AS YOUR COMPASS IN LIFE ....to influence your worldview ....and choices you make.  

Let's talk about them....

The Bible is a trustworthy source of unchanging TRUTH.

This is a really big deal, having the Bible as a source of truth that is unchanging.  What the Bible tells me today will be still true tomorrow.  What is "right and good" today is still right and good tomorrow.  And what is "wrong and messed up" today is still wrong and messed up tomorrow.  .......SMILE,....unless God does something about making it right.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
    — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT  

.......The older you get, the better you will understand why I value having such an unchanging, trustworthy foundation as the Bible for making my life choices.

....and....

The Bible is God's self-disclosure of Who He IS.

In Scripture, God makes Himself known, telling us things which otherwise could never be known.  The Bible was written and preserved, so each new generation of humans can personally know their Creator God.  What previous generations "knew" about God is the same "knowing" we have today.  ....The Bible (2 Peter 1:2) encourages us to "grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord."  ....WHY?

Then you will understand what it means to fear (honor, reverence, adore, worship) the Lord, and you will GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.  For the Lord grants wisdom!  From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
    — Proverbs 2:5-6 NLT

....and....

God's Word tells us how to live with Him ....and for Him.

God created us with a soul and gives us spirit life, ....so we can have a loving relationship with Him.  In God's Word, we learn to make good LIFE-BOUNDRY choices.   ....The Bible gives instructions about how to have good relationships with parents, family, friends, and even strangers. It tells you how to live with integrity, loyalty, goodness, peace, ....and hope.

God's Word reveals HIS POWER TO CHANGE OUR LIVES....
....as we respond to His truths....

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your TRUTH and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you.  Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.
    — Psalm 25:4-6 NLT

....and....

Fulfilled Biblical prophecy validates the Bible as TRUTH.‍

Authored by the Lord God Himself, ....the Bible's 66 books were written in different styles, ....in 3 languages, ....by about 40 different men, ....from different backgrounds, ....in different places, ....over a span of approximately 1500 years.

ALL these writers listened to Author God as they wrote, so the Bible is totally consistent within itself in every chapter and verse.  There are no mistakes anywhere in the Bible, ....and there is an abundance of cross-references with relevant scriptures ....from beginning Genesis to ending Revelation.   
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The amount of PREDICTIVE PROPHECY in the Bible is a big deal, ....making it unique among religious books.

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Sources in online search suggest about 25% of the Bible is prophetic.  And consider, ....Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry, ....including specific predictions about His birth, life, death and resurrection.  THAT gets my attention ....and proves, VALIDATES ALL of the Bible as TRUTH!

By contrast, man-made religions place no emphasis on predictive prophecy.  Just one failed prophecy and they prove themselves false.  ....Mostly, man-made religions rely on what is generally known about human nature, and perhaps how to strive toward some goal(s).  But they DO NOT express a true knowledge of God, ....NOR how to live in relationship with Him.

Given God’s omniscience (infinite knowledge), it is no surprise the Bible contains so many predictions, ....and most of those predictions have already been fulfilled....

For I am God; there are no other gods like Me.  From the beginning I declare how things will end; from times long past, I tell what is yet to be, saying: “My intentions will come to pass.  I will make things happen as I determine they should.”  ....My plan has been made, and I will see it through.
    — Isaiah 46:9-11 The Voice

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Well, there they are.  ....Give some thought to making these reasons your own for TRUSTING IN and LIVING BY God's Holy Word.  ....BECAUSE....

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Knowing God changes your life....

Prove for yourself what is "right", what is TRUTH.  ....Because what you believe is trustworthy ....will impact your worldview, ....which influences your choices.

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^{*Credits: Spirals-Circles image anonymous sent to me by a friend / road signs from dreamstime / "I'm up here!" cartoon by Johnny Hart hung on my office wall for years / Paul writing in prison from my grandmother's 100+ year old Bible}