"I Will Walk in Your Truth" - WHY ANDHOW SOME "SELL" THE TRUTH

In the first century, some who initially responded favorably to the teachings of Jesus failed to continue walking in the truth.  For example, after a large crowd had been fed in a miraculous way by Jesus, the crowd followed him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  There Jesus said something that startled them:  "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves."  Instead of asking Jesus to explain, they were stumbled by his words and said:  "This speech is shocking; who can listen to it?"  As a  result, "many of his disciples went off to the things behind and would no longer walk with him." -John 6:53-66. 

Sadly, some today have failed to hold on to the truth.  Some were stumbled by an adjusted understanding of a Bible passage or by what a prominent brother said or did.  Others were offended by Scriptural counsel they received, or they let go of the truth because of a personality clash with a fellow Christian.  Still others took sides with apostates and other opposers who misrepresented our beliefs. As a result, some deliberately began "drawing away" from  Jehovah and the congregation.  (Hebrews 3:12-14)  How much better it would have been if they had maintained their faith and kept their confidence in Jesus, as the apostle Peter did!  When Jesus asked the apostles if they wanted to leave, Peter immediately replied:  "Lord, whom shall we go away to?  You have sayings of everlasting life." -John 6:67-69. 

Others have left the truth gradually, perhaps without even noticing what was happening.  A person who gradually leaves the truth is like a boat the slowly slips away from the riverbank.  The Bible describes such a slow change as 'drifting away.'  (Hebrews 2:1)  Unlike one who intentionally draws away from the truth, one who drifts away does not do so deliberately. However, such a person strains his relationship with Jehovah and is in danger of losing it. How can we avoid such a tragic course?

Next time: "I Will Walk in Your Truth" - HOW CAN WE AVOID SELLING THE TRUTH?

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