When Truth is Thrown to the Ground

Today's Free Devotional from Ellel Ministries International 

"… and truth was thrown to the ground." Daniel 8:12, NIV

Whenever there’s a conflict, truth is the first thing to suffer. That simple fact has been proved over and over again. And maybe it’s quite natural that this happens since it’s the father of lies who’s behind conflicts and wars. It’s well said that the only time he speaks the truth is when he can deceive us even more by telling the truth than by telling a lie.

When Daniel was given a vision of ages to come one of the things he noticed was that truth will suffer at the hands of mighty men. When the powers of darkness and destruction are ruling truth is the victim, and lies seem to carry the day. As long as truth is victimised the earth is filled with sufferings, wars and evil of every kind.

But that’s not the end. It’s just for a time. Daniel Chapter 12 tells us who will triumph in the end. Then truth will be of great importance, and the angel will lift his hands and swear by Him who lives for ever. That word settles it all and the Kingdom of God will rule for ever.

We’re not there yet. We live in the era where lies are brazenly told and readily believed - lies about almost anything and everything. Because the Word of God is the only foundation for righte¬ous¬ness and justice it’s constantly under attack. I learnt recently that, at one stage, Hitler demanded that the Church should rewrite the Bible. He wanted anything that was offensive to him removed, which of course meant, among other things, that anything Jewish had to be omitted. He wanted to establish his kingdom by‘throwing truth to the ground’. But, as many others have discovered before him, lies will never prove to be solid ground for building anything lasting. In the end He who lives for ever and speaks the truth triumphs, and those who believe lies suffer the consequences.

We seem to be heading into difficult times. Once more, before our very eyes, a great conflict between lies and truth is taking place. Just as it was in the visions of Daniel those who use lies seem invincible and terrifying. But they won’t carry the day. Daniel Chapter 7 tells us of the history of this world, right up to the end. But in the end there’s no question of the outcome: 


‘Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him’ (Daniel 7:27)

Why speak about these things? Aren't we just causing worry and fear? No, we need to know that in the midst of it all truth will not only survive, but triumph. We need to wait, not for hardships, but for the everlasting kingdom. Everything else is transient and of short duration, but God`s truth is for ever! He speaks a word, and worlds come into being, He utters a command, and the same worlds will be cleansed of all evil. That day may soon be here.

We’re not waiting for gloom and darkness, but for glory and goodness. With this hope set before us, like Daniel, let’s endure and wait with anticipation. Daniel needed encouragement to be able to stand firm, and he got it. We need the same, and we should be willing to give it to each other. Today, by a simple word or act, you can encourage someone who needs it, you can strengthen someone near you. Now is the time to practise Hebrews 12:12-13; ‘Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed’.

Today's Writer : Goran Andersson Goran Andersson , together with his wife Roswitha, worked as missionaries in Japan from 1967 – 1985. They then pastored a church before moving to Kåfalla Herrgård, Sweden where Goran became Director. They have worked with Ellel Ministries since 2004 and are Goran is now Director of Ellel Ministries in Sweden.

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Fab is in Brisbane on a work project and I passed the time by watching "Last Night" online. How true this devotional is - truth often does suffer in the face of conflict. 

The movie demonstrates the consequences of pushing the boundaries and allowing our moral values to be eroded. It showed me how we play with what's attractive insofar as it stays fun, and we justify our thoughts and actions to allow us to fall further. 

For each person, the point of feeling guilty or having our conscience pricked (so we put a stop to what we're doing) is different. And it's scary to think that as adults we can be no less susceptible to dancing with temptation. 

I want to be a person who upholds the truth. This means I have to quit being afraid to be honest about my faith. I have to stop trying to fit in with the crowd by speaking in a manner that would make my mother cry. I've been weak in areas I should be firm and firm in areas I should be soft. Weak in my convictions and how I live as a Christian before others and hardened towards God because I've allowed my heart to be disappointed, frustrated and offended. 

Perhaps this is the reason I have had barely anything to write in relation to God. Today marks a new chapter. I will let God in a little more each day from now...

(Thanks to Pastor Lance for subscribing me to Seeds of the Kingdom devotionals)