The mantra of the modern person that is preached and taught today is “You be you. Live your truth”. This sounds wonderful and in the free society that America has provided, people may be whoever or whatever they want to be. We as a society have moved far beyond conversations about what is truth or is there an absolute truth. Now society demands that we recognize, affirm, and support whatever an individual decides is true for themselves. But the age-old problem with truth is still true… Truth is fixed it cannot change.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV
There are truths out there that we are constrained by. There are natural laws and laws of personal interaction that are true regardless of how I live or what I believe about them. The laws of gravity prevents my ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound. There are laws of nature that demand I will grow old and die. No matter what I believe incorrectly or correctly the truth of reality is fixed and this brings us to a powerful realization of an absolute truth that impacts everything. That absolute unchanging knowledge is that where there are laws there is a Law Giver. Where there is a creation there is a Creator. The truths and the laws that we are constrained by, these laws that provide order and consistency are given by God the creator of truth and the creator of humanity. Jesus declared that he is the truth therefore anything that is truly true is sourced from him. The order of mathematics, the order of physics, the order of the seasons, the very order that scientist use to conduct their research, and the order of interpersonal relationships are all sourced from God the creator and law giver.
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Galatians 6:7 ESV
This brings us to what will be a shock to many living in this contemporary time. We have no power to alter or set aside what God has ordered and set as true. Paul writes that God is not mocked. It is the only time in the Bible that this Greek word is used. Contempt, the turning up of one’s nose at truth and the order God has set in place will not last.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Isaiah 5:20-21 ESV
Continuing on in his thought that God is not mocked Paul goes on to explain what he means by putting the result of mocking God into terms of sowing and reaping.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:8 ESV
Mocking God looks like someone who is consumed by personal truth. A pseudo truth that they build life upon. In fact, Paul right before this topic on mocking God writes what a personal truth looks like to God. From this list of personal truth one can start to see how reaping corruption is the only conclusion.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
Alternately someone who sows to the Spirit. A person who understands that there is no truth apart from God the law giver and creator would look like this to God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24 ESV
I have one more point to make on this topic which is very emotional for many who are trapped in their own truth and are consumed by the physical and relations created in this personal truth. The final point is around perspective. The life we build in this world is temporary. The power I accumulate the way I love others if outside the truth of God’s order will come to nothing and set me against God. In order to reap in eternity, one must submit to God and his truth now in this moment of grace. My personal truth is a lie and a trap that leads to destruction. God is truth and he is eternal. He is able free and untangle each of us from the desires of this world and set our heart on him if we recognize his authority and truth through faith.
15 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. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17 ESV
