God's Standard? The Word Of God!

The first step in this process from Truth to confusion is a failure to embrace the work of the Holy Spirit. We must be able to recognize His presence and submit to His leadership if we are to walk in His Truth! (See: A Departure From Truth Results In Confusion). The second step in the process from Truth to confusion is a failure to follow Truth. As a child of God we must seek for revelation of Truth and walk in that Truth without reservation. (See: A Departure From Truth Results In Confusion, part 2). The third step in the process from Truth to confusion is the failure to accurately discern the origin and author of Truth. God is the origin and author of Truth. What we need is a relationship with God in which we can lay aside our beliefs and allow Him to teach us His Truth. (See: The Origin Of Truth).

The last step in this process from Truth to confusion is the failure of churches to provide a Biblical standard through proper interpretation of the Word of God. One function of the Church has been and will continue to be to accurately interpret the Holy Scriptures. We can not afford to misinterpret God’s Message. Proverbs 11:14, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.” Accurate interpretation of Scripture is critical to the mission of the Church and the salvation of the lost.

God has always had and will always have His Standard. That Standard is the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures. Isaiah referred to it as a plume line. Isaiah 28:17, “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.” Judgment was coming to the house of Israel and the only thing that could save them was to repent and return to following God.

The leaders of Israel did not want to hear this message from God consequently they mocked and degraded the messenger. They were infuriated that Isaiah would lecture them as little children. They viewed themselves far superior to Isaiah and mocked his attempt to enlighten them. Is. 28:9, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Through the Prophet, God chided these leaders of the nation of Israel saying they should be mature men willing to accept the Word of the Lord. His Word which is precept upon precept and line upon line. This text indicates the invariableness of a Holy God. He does not deviate from His Standard regardless of who we are. The only redemption that we have is through His Mercy by way of repentance and returning to walk by His Standard.

Israel had made a covenant with Egypt in an attempt to avoid captivity by the Assyrians. God called this covenant “a covenant with death and with hell,” a sure sign of their eventual defeat and captivity, v15.

In His Words given to Isaiah, God uses the example of constructing a building. He references the foundation stone, tried, true and sure. The Word of the Lord cautions not to proceed hastily but to be submissive and get it right. A true and secure foundation is critical for the construction of a durable structure. In v 17, the Word of the Lord indicates that He will apply His Standard regarding the judgment and righteousness of Israel. Because they did not receive God’s correction they were carried away into captivity by the Assyrians and scattered to the four corners of the world. Israel was held accountable to God’s Standard.

Today, we stand at the door of a grand endeavor. That is to prepare for the appearing of the Son of God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. Our challenge is to make ready the bride to be united with the bridegroom. She must remain chaste, pure, undefiled and without spot or wrinkle. The external forces in our world are pressing in upon the boundaries of holiness and righteousness which are so firmly established in God's Holy Word. The ideals of a carnal theology have infiltrated the pulpit and weakened the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude wrote to identify the apostasy that had crept into the Church in his day and to warn future generations to guard against false doctrine.

Sin and apostasy must be identified and addressed in the Church. The Bride of Christ will be presented to Him without spot. Another role of the Holy Spirit is to illuminate the darkness and remove the covering for sin. The Word of Truth illuminated by the Spirit of Truth will set the souls of men free to walk in the liberty which only God can give. The Church of God must preach the Word of God and hold the Children of God accountable to the Standard of God! Amen