Kemper wrote:
The Pursuit of Perdition
Man’s unwillingness to acknowledging God as his creator begins the pursuit of his own way. Man’s way is rooted in self-preservation, placing him on a path of destruction. Proverbs 1:29-31states, For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. Paul confirms this scripture in Romans 1:26-28; For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.
In Romans 1:20 Paul says man is without excuse. The Father with His Word and His Spirit has created heaven and earth with all their host, including man. If man refuses to acknowledge His maker against such obvious evidence there is nothing else available in this physical realm to convert him to pursue the truth. With each denial of the Spirit’s conviction, man’s heart becomes increasingly hardened to the knowledge of the truth. “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (the Spirit of Truth) shall not be forgiven unto men” (Matthew 12:31).
When the Spirit of truth is rejected by man he is left to rely on the spirit of this world. If the truth is not received the only alternative are lies. This denial of the truth begins the development of the son of perdition. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
Love of the Truth
The “love of the truth” is the primary ignition source of spiritual awareness. The love of the truth begins one’s own relationship with the Father, the Origin of Truth. Remember Jesus is the way the TRUTH and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Him. Those that try to develop a relationship with God without first having a love of the truth, rely on other men and institutions to satisfy their sense of fellowship. Man’s religion and traditions provide no life. Institutions such as religion and church traditions are only legitimate if they hold the believer accountable for their own spiritual relationship with Christ Jesus and refrain from being a replacement for such. They should be useful in providing direction to the source without being the source.
The Apostle John put it this way in 1 John 2:27, But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Hear what the Spirit is saying through John. You shall abide in Christ EVEN AS you are taught by the anointing (the Spirit) IN you. If you’re not being taught by the Spirit from within you’re not abiding in Christ. Moreover, in John 16:13, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Men of God can be used as resources of revelation for the body of Christ, but the Holy Spirit is the discerner that bears witness to any truth from such. The love for the truth is the love for the Lord. This is what Jesus recognized in Mary when she had left Martha to serve alone. Martha complained… “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
The truth is the “one thing” Mary chose, the standard by which all things are measured. The truth abides alone. There is no alternative to it and it does not change. Our perception of it might change, but the truth doesn’t. It has no rivals. There is no need to defend it. “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8).
Truth welcomes trials of its integrity and attacks upon its unity, for its desire is to be verified within the heart of those who love it. The lover of truth is the elect of God, whom is referred to in Matthew 24:24, 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. This reveals that those who are not the elect will be deceived, and if you are not deceived, you are the elect. The lover of truth welcomes alternative perspectives in the hope of verifying what is known and possibly revealing anything amiss. The truth is a standard without which the world will not be judged, condemned or destroyed. Truth must be present for lies to cower and darkness to scatter. Truth is the fire of God, it destroys all that doesn’t correspond to the Word of the Father’s intent.
God’s intent is love, for God is love. To walk in truth one must walk in love. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).
The acknowledgment of God as creator is the first step in walking in truth. Acknowledging God is referred to as “the fear of the Lord” in scripture. This first step is recorded in Proverbs 9:10, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Unfortunately many have stumbled at this first step and initiated the pursuit of their own way of which leads to destruction. On the other hand, those who acknowledge God have taken their first step in subjecting themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit conforming them to the image the Father intended them to become.