There is Something You Can Trust

By Pastor Aubrey Duncan

The Age of Mistrust

In a world that is characterized by uncertainty and disappointment, everyone is wondering: ‘Is there anyone/anything I can trust? The politicians are always making promises that they never keep. The pastors and preachers continue to exhort theories and opinions that are totally contrary to, and absolutely refute the word of Almighty God, thereby deceiving their followers. This is not surprising since we were warned that the greatest sign of the end of the world would be deception.

Deception is sincerely believing a lie and convincing oneself that it is the truth. Perhaps the most hideous deception is the popular theory that there is no absolute truth. Everyone, as many claim, has their own truth. Any wonder why there is so much chaos and confusion in the world today?

At the end of His brief sojourn of thirty-three years on planet earth, of which three and a half were spent in the challenging task of public ministry, the most mysterious and impactful member of the human family declared: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Despite the overwhelming, irrefutable evidence of His claim, most of humanity, under varying guises, has rejected Him. They have chosen deception.

It was a few days before His earthly demise. He visited His beloved place of worship in the metropolitan city of Jerusalem. The Jewish temple was the most magnificent structure in the city and was located at the center of this bustling crossroads city endowed with commerce and a culture of international flavor. It was the religious capital of the world and was governed by the iron-fisted Roman empire. Jerusalem was strategically located at a point where travelers from the then-known world could pass through and get an opportunity to know the Truth. Many took it back to their various national origins.

With this backdrop, Jesus Christ, in a profoundly passionate denunciation, confronted the leaders of the temple. He revealed to them the destructive destiny that awaited them because of their rejection of Him, the Truth. Despised and broken-hearted, He exited His House of Worship for the last time, taking His closest disciples with Him.

With a sense of painful, unexplainable rejection, they began to ascend the Mount of Olives, situated not too far from the temple. This was a place where Jesus often resigned with that special company for moments of meditation and reflection. They came to a quiet spot that afforded a vantage view of the centerpiece of their lives, which they intensely adored. Gazing upon the glitter and dazzling splendor of the temple, reflecting the bright rays of the noonday sun, His disciples asked Jesus to further explain the meaning of those things He had not too long ago expounded to the leaders, particularly the coming destruction of the temple and the end of the world.

The first words that proceeded from His lips were: “Take heed that no man deceive you, For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Then, as if He desperately wanted that thought to be riveted in their minds, He reiterated: “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many”. So deeply concerned about warning His disciples about this nefarious endtime phenomenon, Jesus repeated with profound passion: “ For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:4, 11, 24).

His servant Paul, in full agreement with His Lord and Savior, reminded the church of his time and us today: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13–14).

Endtime Deceptions

Nevertheless, deception abounds at an unimaginable level in Christendom. Christianity is manifesting itself in various forms, contrary to the original pattern laid out by Jesus and His early followers. Many are sincere about what they believe, say, and do, but sincere belief in error is very dangerous. Drinking a glass of Kool Aid mixed with cyanide will surely kill you, whether you sincerely believe that it is poison or not.

There is the rapid ascendancy of Greek intellectual philosophy, replacing the simple gospel of salvation by God’s grace through faith in His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Scholarly knowledge and higher critical criticism take the place of ‘A thus saith the Lord’. Ministers are no longer pastors but must have the right letters behind their names. But the more letters accrued, the swifter the dilution of the true gospel becomes.

Since at least the fourth century, with the purported acceptance of the Christian religion by the Roman Emperor Constantine, the church has been imbued with Paganism and Egyptian mythology. Currently, we are witnessing the rise of Eastern Mysticism in the Emerging Church movement, advancing contemplative meditations, centering prayer, and a plethora of feel-good delusions. The call to let us all come together is loud and getting louder by the minute. The constant refrain is, We’re all serving the same God’. Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Evangelicals, Catholics, Muslims, New Agers, and everybody else are coming together in the name of world peace and climate change. The Prince of Peace, who is also the Only Truth, is lost in this milieu of deadly deceptions.

Added to the mix of religious fervor is the American-born brand of Christianity, the Prosperity Gospel with its name-it or claim-it doses of heretical poison and self-help theology. And then there is the widely-increasing promulgation of the social gospel. It looks great on the surface, but under close examination, it turns out to be nothing more than a rapid move towards Marxist Socialism, with the state and religion united and promising to bring about a better society. It always fails and only brings about disastrous results. Ironically, all these are advanced in the name of Jesus Christ. The question is, where is the truth in all this?

But Jesus is asking: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 6:46–49). Interpreted loosely: Deception will destroy you.

The Only Thing You Can Trust

But how can someone be sure they are not being deceived? How do you get it right? How can you be certain that you do have the truth? There is only one way—and one way only—that is trusting and having faith in God’s word, the Holy Bible. It is the only thing you can trust. It will never disappoint or deceive you.

And how do we get that faith? The Bible itself tells us. The learned apostle Paul declares: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). He continues: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). He concludes: “The Just shall by faith” (Romans 1:17). Faith ultimately is simply accepting what God says in the Bible and acting upon it.

With this faith, I ask that we take a closer look at the Holy Bible, the only thing you can decidedly trust.

The word of God, the Holy Bible, is unlike any other book. In fact, it is a unique compilation of 66 books that reveal to man who the true God really is. The Bible testifies to God in a way that no other book does. It originates with God. The apostle Peter declares of the Holy Scriptures: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation … For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost ” (2 Peter 1:20–21). The Bible is its own expositor. It is truly the word of God. It needs no man’s philosophy, theology, or ideology to comprehend its teachings. Its author instructs us: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).

As we examine the Bible, we will discover that there are at least seven elements that prove it to be what it claims to be-the unerring word of Creator God. Therefore, unlike any other person or thing, it can be trusted.

1) Internal Consistency

The Bible was written over a time span of about 1500 years. It was written by approximately 40 men from three continents. Most of them did not know each other. They hailed from varied socio-economic backgrounds. They embraced different cultural heritages. They represented diverse life experiences. Despite these variables, all Bible writers relate one inescapable, enduring story: God’s boundless and matchless love for mankind. They all pointed their readers to the only, omnipotent, merciful God who seeks to restore man back to His (God’s) image from which we have fallen. Jesus the Truth sums up the story: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16–17). No other book remotely matches that record.

2) Universal Relevancy

The teachings of the Bible are equally applicable to men and women today as they were when humanity first tread the earth. The foundation of not only civil society but also of so-called uncivilized societies is built upon the precepts of the Bible. The concepts of love, respect, obedience, forgiveness, mercy, and justice are all ultimately rooted in the Bible. You may go to the most depraved and uncivilized societies on the planet, and you will find a moral code based upon the foundational teachings of the Bible. The Bible’s doctrines of morality and decency are as relevant today as they were in Eden. Failure to follow those precepts always leads to moral decay, social degradation, and ultimately death. Look at contemporary society, and you will discover what it means to live outside of God’s moral standards as established in the Bible. There is always confusion, oppression, and finally destruction when men seek to live contrary to the precepts of the Bible. Think of the Dark Ages. The Bible is the only thing you can trust, yet unfortunately, the majority of those for whom it is intended reject it.

3) The Testimony of Science

All true science is in perfect harmony with the Bible. Despite modern man’s attempt to separate science from true religion, which is found only in the Bible, the evidence points unequivocally to the contrary. All the scientists of renown have been Bible-believing Christians or Sabbath keeping Jews. Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, and Louis Pasteur, to name a few, were all God-fearing men. Their contributions to science, which benefit us all, are undeniable. Long before modern science confirmed that the earth was round, Isaiah declared, “It is He (God) who sitteth upon the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22). The patriarch Job had long established what the scientists later confirmed: “He (God) stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing” (Job 26:7). Modern scientific research into the origins of the universe is moving closer and closer to the Biblical account. The ‘big bang’ theory is pointing ever so much closer to the fact that the universe and its order of operation are the works of an intelligent designer who skillfully puts and holds everything together. The God of the Bible is greater than science. He created science. All true science is in complete agreement with the Bible.

4) The Testimony of History

The events, places, and personalities of the Bible, confirmed by historical facts, are today taken for granted. Take, for example, world history as foretold by the prophet Daniel in the 2^nd, 7^th, 8th, and 11^th chapters of his book. These are now proven historical facts. The world reign of Babylon, followed by that of Media Persia, which was succeeded by Greece under Alexander the Great, is undeniable. Then the rise of the Imperial Roman Empire, its transformation into Papal Rome, and its ultimate amalgamation with the United States of America are all now a matter of documented history. In fact, we are players and, at the same time, spectators to the unfolding of that history.

5) The Testimony of Prophecy

Prophecy is simply history foretold. Therefore, the only test of true prophecy is that it must come to pass. Of all the prophecies in the Bible, none are more astounding than the prophecies concerning our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The prophet Micah prophesied the exact place of His birth (Micah 5:2). Isaiah foretold of His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14). Zechariah told us hundreds of years before the event happened that the Savior would be sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13). The prophet Daniel foretold the length of Jesus’ public ministry (Daniel 9:27). The Psalmist David assured us that His bones would not be broken and that men would gamble for His garments (Psalm 22:16–18). Those are but a few of the more than 2,500 prophecies about the Messiah. Every one, with the exception of His second coming, has come to pass exactly as the Bible predicted. These prophecies were all fulfilled with uncanny accuracy and Divine precision. Isaiah writes on behalf of God: “I am the Lord … new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them“ (Isaiah 42:8,9).

No so-called holy man or philosophical writer can truthfully utter those words. No other religious book can claim such credits. In fact, an examination of major religious writings outside the Bible would prove that the element of prophecy is virtually non-existent. Only a God who knows the future can predict the future and make it come to pass.

6) The Testimony of Archaeology

There has never been an archaeological find in the Bible lands that contradicted the historical record of the Bible. Quite the contrary, those finds confirm exactly what the Bible records. Critics have repeatedly been proven wrong as new discoveries confirm Biblical people, places, and events. The classic case in point is the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered over a period from 1946 to 1956. Excavations conducted and scientifically examined proved to be in remarkable conformity with facts and events mentioned in the Bible. Part of the find was a precise, original rendering of the book of Isaiah. Archaeology has confirmed the existence of King David, whom the historians had previously considered to be a mythical figure. The Hittites, a nation mentioned several times in the Old Testament, was also considered mythical until the archaeologists discovered evidence not only of their existence but also proof of their power and prestige, just as it is recorded in the Bible. Every archaeological find in the Middle East confirms some fact, person, or event as recorded in God’s Holy Word, the Bible.

7) The Testimony of a Changed Life

The greatest testimony to the authenticity and divine nature of the Bible is its power to transform the lives of those who accept and trust it. Many are familiar with that enduring hymn, Amazing Grace. Few, however, know of the life-changing experience of its author that led him to pen those amazing words. John Newton was engaged in the most ignominious of human endeavors, the African slave trade. On one of his trips from Africa to England, the story goes, he heard a preacher speak the message of salvation. John Newton was so moved that he obtained a Bible, which he took with him on his voyage back to Africa. On one moonlit night, he came above the deck of his vessel with its stomach-churning cargo, innocent human beings reduced to despicable nothingness. He became intrigued by the awesomeness of God as revealed in the starry heavens as it blanketed the endless expanse of the majestic ocean. Moved by the thought of the monstrosity of his trade and God’s mercy towards him, he retired to his cabin and penned the words of that now-redeeming hymn, Amazing Grace: Those words have brought unspeakable peace and comfort to untold millions around the world, this writer included.

My story is a living testimony to the power of the Bible. The word reached me in a life of riotous living characterized by drugs, alcohol, gambling, thievery, and licentiousness. It has brought me to a life of devotion to God and dedication to the work of the ministry of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul, in his usual forceful fashion, explains the power of the Bible: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also the Greek. For herein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16–17). He continues: ” Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). You can trust the Bible.

Princes and popes have banned it, but the Bible still exists. Atheists have burned it and abused it, but the word of God still remains. Men have always denied it, but the message of salvation is more pervasive today than ever before in human history. Martyrs were burned, boiled, stoned, sawn asunder, and imprisoned for it, but faith in God and belief in the Bible, which reveal the true God and His plan for salvation for human souls, loom ever stronger.

The Bible is humanity’s only sure foundation, and it is something you can trust. It is the rock upon which the wise builder builds his house. It is a precious book. It is a unique book, truly unlike any other. It makes the drunkard sober. It takes the liar and makes him truthful. It grabs hold of the lady of the night and makes her a jewel in the crown of its author. It makes the profligate honest.

The Bible has been translated into more languages, tongues, and dialects than any other book. The Bible is its own expositor. It is truly the word of God. All human teachings are subordinate to it. It needs neither man’s philosophy, theology, nor ideology to comprehend its teachings. Its teachings are equally applicable to all classes and cultures. Its timeless nature is beyond human comprehension. One writer declared, “The Bible is an anvil that has worn out many hammers”. It is true to the assurance of its Author: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8).

The Bible tells the greatest story ever told, the story of Jesus Christ. The story of His pre-existence and virgin birth, His sinless life, His sacrificial death on Calvary’s cross, His bodily resurrection, His intercessory ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, and His soon coming are indelibly written on its pages. It is the drama of the ages. His story has served not only to build a great nation (Christianity), but it has impacted societies around the world like none other has. His story has transformed more characters than any legal concept or political device ever conceived. It is a story that ennobles the character, refines the taste, purifies the thoughts, and enriches the soul.

In this day of peril, evil, and uncertainty, the Bible remains the only solid foundation upon which you can stand. It is a Divine insecticide—a sin killer. The Bible gives the truest, most accurate account of human experience—past, present, and unlike any other book, the future.

Ellen G. White, the renowned 19^th-century Bible commentator who the Smithsonian Magazine cites as one of the ten most influential religious leaders of all time, offers this insightful commentary:

“The Word of God, like the character of its divine Author, presents mysteries that can never be fully comprehended by finite beings. If it were possible for created beings to attain to a full understanding of God and His works, then, having reached this point, there would be for them no further discovery of truth, no growth in knowledge, no further development of mind or heart. God would no longer be supreme; and men, having reached the limit of knowledge and attainment, would cease to advance. Let us thank God that it is not so. God is infinite; in Him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

“In the natural world we are constantly surrounded with mysteries that we cannot fathom … Should we then be surprised to find that in the spiritual world also there are mysteries that we cannot fathom? The mysteries of the Bible are among the strongest evidences of its divine inspiration. If it contained no account of God but that which we could comprehend; if His greatness and majesty could be grasped by finite minds, then the Bible would not, as now, bear the unmistakable evidences of divinity.”

“The more we search the Bible, the deeper is our conviction that it is the word of the living God, and human reason bows before the majesty of divine revelation. Christ will lead the redeemed ones beside the river of life, and will open to them that which while on this earth they could not understand. In the light that shines from the throne, mysteries will disappear, and the soul will be filled with astonishment at the simplicity of the things that were never before comprehended.”  (E.G. White, The Faith We Live By, pg. 14).

Yes, there is something you can trust: the Bible. But, will you?

About: Follow Pastor Aubrey Duncan at his Unfolding Prophecy Page