Do you remember conducting a school science project using litmus paper? We learned when these specialty-coated strips come in contact with an acidic substance, the paper would change color. Throughout life, other elements drove this point across: know your environment and know how to react when tested.
The litmus test became more than a school experiment. Consider it a metaphor for life gauging right versus wrong, good versus evil. We as Christ followers have but to peruse the pages of God’s Word to react to the issues that test one’s heart. Sex before marriage. Cheating. Hatred and hostility. Those seem pretty acidic against God’s word, right? But what if we opened ourselves up to a couple of simpler passages to determine our base or acidic, spiritual substance. Are you ready to test your “know” or “no” substance against the Word of God? Here’s a couple of passages I found quite revealing:
- Psalm 46:10 — “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” How many of us have the abridged passage quoted on a t-shirt, plaque or wall hanging? We know how to be still. We know to reverence God. We know to spend time in quiet meditation. We even know how to spend that time beholding God’s sovereignty. But, is He honored by every nation and throughout the world?
Sadly, this litmus runs rampant in a world gone wild. And yet, Paul warned Timothy of such changes (2 Timothy 3:1-5) and encouraged him and us with this strong charge: “But evil people and imposters will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you” (2 Timothy 3:13-14).
Do you lean into the One who taught you for the answers that can’t be explained by the world? Do you bring the world’s clamoring to the Lord hoping He will quiet your soul instead of what disquiets theirs? We are called to hold on to truth even when the world hangs onto lies.
Know or no? In the midst of deceit, will you be still and know by remaining faithful to what you’ve been taught? - Proverbs 3:5-6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” A true heart knows because it’s where the spirit resides. And where the spirit resides, freedom follows. This isn’t an esoteric statement, but an absolute statement of spiritual fact.
Often, the Spirit gets an honorable mention in His role as comforter, advocate and guide. He flows in conjunction with the Father and the Son and they work in harmony to ensure our steps are aligned with their ultimate will, purpose and plan. The Spirit never steers us wrong nor sends us on some wild, futile goose chase because God didn’t send His Son to see that happen (John 3:16) and Jesus didn’t suffer a senseless death to see those plans fail.
To the world, the dynamic of an interconnected deity working together for our good leaves more questions unresolved than settled by sheer acceptance. The world dips its litmus strip into a pool of doubt, fear and worry and does not rest unless irrefutable evidence presents all the facts. Can I tell you with that level of logic, the world lives in a deprived state trying to understand God and themselves.
I can share until the cows come home about the immense goodness of Jesus, the unfathomable love of God and the eternal presence of the Spirit, but unless one either experiences its benefits, only one other option remains: accept Them as fact. Even after all the time Jesus spent with His disciples, He spoke these words: “Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the works you have seen me do” (John 14:11). He knew their troubled hearts and He knows how troubled we get in our quest for understanding, but in the assurance of John 14:1, He promised His presence in the form of a forever promise. That promise was left in a capable Advocate who dwells with us, directs us and delivers us in all our angst-filled steps (John 14:15-17). I know me. I don’t have to understand it; I simply accept it.
Know or no? When trouble looms, will you lean on a promised Advocate or try and advance on your own understanding?
Get to know God if your baseline pulls up “no.” He knows the challenges we’ve all faced at some time in the world. My prayer is you trust and believe. The Word of God is the trusted litmus test capable of answering the questions of doubt, trouble or despair.
