REJECTING  TRUTH  - A SIGN OF THE TIMES

2 Peter 3:5 – For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
 
          It is very frustrating to tell certain people the truth and yet they absolutely reject  hearing it, even after it being clearly explained to them.  Rejecting truth is not something new as it was very obviously done throughout history; rejecting truth is a character flaw, a weakness of the corrupt and godless human nature.  These have been deceived by the wicked one, the father of liars.   

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 – and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

            What is most alarming is even Christians reject some truths when presented to them.

Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
 
          Jesus himself was rejected and He is the living and eternal truth.  The religious elite of His day refused to acknowledge Him as the truth, as well as the truth He preached.

John 14:10 – Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

          The same happened when Jesus presented himself before the governmental leaders.

John 18:37-38 –Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”  
         
          Here we see a government official staring truth in the face and could not see it.  So we must realize that there are people who purposely will not hear or accept truth; they are willingly ignorant of truth when faced with the facts.
 
1 Corinthians 14:38 – But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
 
          They are a law unto themselves; they consider themselves as preeminent, making their own determinations as to what they think is truth that is acceptable to them to justify their actions and beliefs.

Proverbs 16:25 – There is a way that seems right to a man,  But its end is the way of death.
 
        Such truth rejecters suppose themselves as being wise enough to figure what is right and proper as though they were able to make wise judgment as though they were gods.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 –  Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.

          Such “wise guys” fail to recognize that their wisdom and plans lead to nothing that is of any real worth or value; they are all vain – empty, profitless and folly.

          In these last days the rejection of truth is becoming more and more prominent as warned by the apostle Peter, mentions above.  So why are they willingly ignorant and choosing to remain so?

Romans 10:3 –  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

          There are several reasons for this purposeful ignorance and it all has to do with the selfish and prideful carnal nature of man that needs to be changed.  This has its roots in what is the cause of sin in the world: lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and pride of life.

1 John 2:15-16 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

          Those who are focused on their own fleshly lusts demonstrate a selfish bent for power, control and wealth.  Anything that shows that these lustful ambitions are wrong is summarily rejected.  Thus the truth about repentance and change is rejected.

          Pride is a paramount factor is rejecting truth because such people refuse to admit they are wrong.  They refuse to humble themselves and submit to truth.  They refuse to repent.

     Luke 7:30 –  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
 
          Such people are on the path of self-destruction because their plans and schemes are outside of what is moral and right.
        
         Another reason people reject truth is because it conflicts with their traditions which they prefer to hold onto; people feel secure in their traditions because they feel in control.  This is especially true in religious practices.

Matthew 15:3, 6, 8-9 – He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

          Then there is the age old problem of resistance to change, people don’t like to be moved out of their comfort zone and adopt something different. They may say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”;  but they fail to recognize that it is broke, and does need fixing.

          Rejecting truth leaves people in bondage to error, lies and deception.

John 8:31-32, 36 – Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.