July 14, 2020
#valiant_for_the_truth
Jeremiah 9:1-16.
In
the passage, the LORD gave a long list of censures against the evils and
wickedness among His people.
My
first impression was, "there goes the Reformed fable of the perseverance
of the saints." It is the popular Reformed idea that children of God will
most certainly persevere in faith and holiness of life to the end of their
lives; those who don't, can't possibly be God's children, to begin with, they
insist. They have perverted the P of TULIP; P doesn't say God's children will
certainly persevere in faith and holiness of life to the end of their lives.
Jeremiah
9:3
And
they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for
the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not
me, saith the LORD.
One
of the top censures against His people is "they are not valiant for the
truth..." Closely related to that evil is the twin wickedness stated next,
"for they proceed from evil to evil" and "they know not
me."
Note
a few things:
i.
It is the LORD God Himself who leveled these censures.
ii.
These censures are leveled against His people; the phrase "my people"
occurs in the first two verses.
iii.
Precious truth has been delivered to His people through His prophets. This was
a unique blessing enjoyed by them. Rom 3:2
iv.
How did they treat such a precious gift to them? "They are not valiant for
the truth."
They are not excited with the precious gift; they don't treasure it; they don't learn and understand it; they don't proclaim and defend it; naturally, they don't contend for the truth or expose the lies that are peddled as truth.
v.
What's the inevitable consequence when God's people are not valiant for the
truth?
-
They will proceed from evil to evil; when they are indifferent to the truth of
God and are not guided by the truth of God, they will walk contrary to
righteousness. Instead of being spiritually-minded, they are carnally minded.
-
They know not their LORD: the LORD is to be known through the truth that He has
spoken unto us. The LORD's revelation Himself is the only way His people can
know Him.
The
fact that the LORD censured His people shows that valiancy for His truth is a
just and reasonable expectation; it is also a necessary duty for the spiritual
wellbeing and usefulness of God's children.
Too
many Christians couldn't care less; in fact, not a few are averse to sound
doctrines; as a result, they know not the LORD their God. Many are "ever
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 2Tim 3:7.
Are
you valiant for the truth of the LORD our God? We live in perilous times; we
need be valiant for the truth of God. Amen.
