‘Lessons must be learnt’ ~ ‘Lessons will be learnt’, are two encouraging phrases that are uttered by people in authority, who, when disasters occur in the areas for which they have responsibility, are under tremendous pressure. The sad thing is, that most of us know that in very many cases, these phrases do not mean very much, for over the succeeding weeks and months little or nothing actually changes.
But, let us not be too critical or dismissive of those in power; they have an almost impossible job. For what can they do, when those upon whom they are relying for advice and professional counsel, very often totally disagree with each other and give confusing and diverse advice? From where are politicians, scientists, economists and medical experts, getting their information? They cannot all be correct.
How can man’s wisdom or computer modelling be completely true and trustworthy?
‘What lessons are being learnt?’ It is often said that if we do not learn from the mistakes of history, we are doomed to repeat the errors in the future. What lessons have you learnt in your own life?
From whom are you learning? Who can be trusted? What is truth?
What is the answer? Where can we go for the truth? If only there was someone we could trust...
Christians, walking in step with the Lord God Almighty, know that He alone is the answer. When the Lord God had completed creating on the 6th day, He cast His expert eye over all His handiwork, “and it was very good”. That is the truth, and all that God has done down through the years since those six days of creation, has been perfect. All the diseases, the disasters, the imperfections we see around us, are the results of the enemy’s (Satan’s) action, whose goal is “to steal, to kill and to destroy”. When man refuses to listen to the Lord God and walk in His ways, the result is selfish sinfulness which causes separation from God, the catastrophic results of which can be seen throughout the whole world.
There is only one answer to the ever-increasing problems in which we find ourselves. Within the muddled cacophony of conflicting voices, only one constant, clear voice is heard. Who, but God’s only Son, the Lord Jesus, the personification of perfection, has dared to stand in the face of intense pressure and opposition, and fearlessly declare, in the face of impending death:
“I am the Truth. I came into this world to tell you the Truth.
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father, except through Me”
Only a liar, a deceiver, or an idiot, would make those statements, which led to His violent, bloody, cruel, painful death on a Roman gibbet like a common criminal ~ unless He was telling the Truth.
Who else, but our loving, righteous, perfect Creator, the Lord God Almighty, could correct the sinful, selfish lawlessness which is corrupting society? Who else could forgive man for his rebellion and disobedience, and restore all those who humble themselves in repentance, to be children in His loving family? The Truth is, that the Lord God Almighty is the only One Who can dismantle the evil in the world and redeem and renew the whole of creation. That is the work God commenced on the cross.
One day, this work will be beautifully completed in the new heaven and the new earth.
This is the biggest lesson that must be learnt: On our own, men and women will never be able to permanently correct, repair or resolve any of the large or small problems that face us in this world, until we turn to the Lord and ask for His help. The Lord God, our loving Creator, seeing our helplessness, has done all that is necessary through the death and resurrection of His only Son, the Lord Jesus. He said,
“Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil….they hate the light….and fear that their deeds will be exposed”.
“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light”.
Are you learning that lesson?
Ron Brickman