
Chapter
5
What can I believe is true?
....prove for yourself what is true, ....and what is not
How many spirals can you count in the image above? Looks like two, ....a blue one and another black-and-white. Don't take my word for it, you can see those spirals with your own eyes. ....Which brings to mind a Mark Twain quote....

You need to prove what is "right" for yourself. So, ....following directions in the image above, run your cursor (or finger) around the spirals a few times to ....convince ....yourself....? ....They are circles? ....Hmm. Not sure yet, so you check it out again. SMILE.... Yes, they are circles!
The circles image is kinda like life. You see spirals, and yet must prove to yourself they are actually circles. ....Likewise in life, YOU MUST PROVE FOR YOURSELF WHAT IS TRUE ....AND WHAT IS NOT, because your choices have consequences.
So, let's talk about pursuing ....and knowing "truth"....

Life is a learning journey to seek truth

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 are some turnarounds and ....maybe even a few start overs.
Speaking from my old(er) guy's perspective, ....get all the help you can from the experience and wisdom of others, ....consider it, ....and then make your own choices. Having said that, there is, for sure,
....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. 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 ("Did God really say...?"), because it works so well on us humans, ....when we DO NOT TRUST GOD ....and don't believe and follow His truth. ....WHEN WE BECOME PRIDEFUL and want to "BE LIKE GOD".

We must understand what happened in Genesis 3:1-5, so we can LEARN FROM IT. It is the Devil's tempt human "self" to not trust God strategy ....to destroy our relationship with Creator God ...."now" and for "Eternity".
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
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?
This is something we must know and understand....
And we must also know....

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 to ask THE question ....again....
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 four 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 designed 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 a 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.

The amount of PREDICTIVE PROPHECY in the Bible is a big deal, ....making it unique among religious books.
....Sources in an online search suggest over 25% of the Bible is prophetic. ....And consider, Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry. ....That gets my attention ....and proves, validates ALL of the Bible as TRUTH!
The Good News ...."I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said."
— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT


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 a relationship with Him.
Given God’s omniscience (infinite knowledge), it is no surprise the Bible contains so many predictions, ....and many 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

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