Part 5 of 8 Qualities of the Heart That Resists Error
This series examines eight soul qualities that make us immune to false teaching.
5. The love of truth
Sinful choices can give a foothold to the devil (see Ephesians 4:26–27). If we are liars, we give a foothold to the father of lies (see John 8:37–59). If we want to deceive ourselves and others, we can unwittingly welcome deceiving spirits (1 Kings 22:1–38). Lies are dangerous things that lead to more than we bargain for.
In the end times, for example, the people who will be susceptible to the outrageous deceptions of the Antichrist will be those who have previously refused to love the truth, in particular the truth of the gospel, when they had opportunity. Second Thessalonians 2:9–12 says:
“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (italics added)
This is a troubling text. It shows that those who do not love truth are responsible for the consequences. They are tested and judged through falsehood. In perfect justice God judges those who choose not to believe the truth by letting those who live by lies die by lies. Truth matters; believing God’s truth is a moral obligation; preferring lies is evil. That is why Revelation 21:8 includes liars in bad company in a bad place: “As for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (italics added). Lies are more evil than most people realize.
Conversely, the love of truth gives us the ability to recognize truth. Fiction writer J.R.R. Tolkien illustrates this in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. One leader of Rohan says of his people, “The Men of the Mark do not lie, and therefore they are not easily deceived.” Those who love truth enough to be honest even when it hurts, who are unwilling to lie for gain, who are vigilant about the truthfulness of their words, heighten their ability to recognize truth or falsehood in others’ words. An honest person has a nose for truth.
The love of truth gives courage to those who have come to the Lord after being in a Christian group beset with serious doctrinal mistakes, or in a cult. When they see the light, instead of staying in their group because they want to remain with friends and family, they are committed to God’s truth even when it means leaving everything they have known behind. They follow truth at all costs.