This evening there are students around the country studying for their semester exams. They are reviewing textbooks and notes that will educate them in math, science, literature, philosophy, and religion. Many of these students sat in lectures throughout the semester listening to professors speak on these subjects. Some of these professors have proposed to the students that they must realize the absolute truths in these varied subjects. The students will also have learned about people who have stated what truth is, people like Socrates, Earnest Hemingway, and even rock stars like Kurt Cobain.

These teachers will educate young people about Socrates. Did Socrates find truth in his philosophy? This learned man spent years debating the aspects of truth. He mentored young men and tried to give them the meaning of truth. How did he end up? He was convicted of stirring up rebellion among the youth, was forced to drink the poison hemlock, and as far as we know died an unbeliever.

Earnest Hemingway spent his life searching for the truth. He wrote great novels about truth in this world. He lashed out in his writings against Christianity and claimed that believers did not have the truth. But when students learn about this author, they will discover this man's life ended in turmoil with a shotgun in his mouth. Did Earnest Hemingway find real truth before he committed suicide?

In some universities students are able to take classes on pop culture. In some of these classes they will learn about the rock star, Kurt Cobain. Many people say that this man opened up the truth with his band, Nirvana, and that he gave truthful meaning to life for Generation X. Kurt Cobain also ended his own life in unbelief with a shotgun.

Then there are people like Pontius Pilate, who cynically asked Jesus, "What is truth?" These are the people who claim that there is no thing as absolute truth. Give thanks to God that he has given us truth. Thank the Lord that we do not have to live a life of hopelessness without the truth. For Jesus tells us in the Bible, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." So let us pray this evening, "Lord Jesus Come to Me - With Your Truth."

These words from I John encourage us to "test the spirits to see if they from God." He is speaking about the person moved by a spirit, whether the Holy Spirit or an evil spirit moves them. Why does John say to do this? Because there are many false prophets out there. There are many people that the devil uses to lead people astray. Jesus warned of this in the gospels. The Apostle Paul, Peter and here John warns of it. This should not be shocking. But what is shocking to some is that we ought to question others beliefs. There is a prevailing attitude in our culture, as I stated before, that we should not consider anyone to have the absolute truth. The sense is that we should not judge another persons beliefs. However John says to do just that.

And John also tells us a way to test the spirit of person to see if they are from God. He says that every person that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. Conversely he states that anyone who acknowledges that Jesus came in the flesh is from God. John was battling the common idea of the time that Jesus was not true man. John states God's judgment on these people very clearly, that they are not from God.

Why is this important? Jesus Christ needed to be true God and true man to pay for sins. Jesus, true God, had to be holy, innocent, and pure to bring us out of our wretched state of sinfulness because God demands perfection from us and we are not perfect. We are sinners and don't meet God's standards on our own. However Jesus placed his holiness onto us.

Jesus also needed to be true man to suffer and die in our place. God tells us in His Word that the wages of sin is death. Jesus died for us on the cross. He took our sins upon him as he hung on that cursed tree. We are saved because Jesus was true man and suffered for us. Our guilt is removed forever.

That is why Christmas is such a big deal. The truth that mankind has is that Jesus, true God, was born in a stable in Bethlehem. Christmas is not all the distractions that the devil places in our path, but rather it is the simple, absolute truth that Jesus was born as a human being in order to live and die in our place. And so we pray this Advent season, Lord Jesus Come to me with this truth.

We pray this prayer with repentant hearts knowing we don't deserve this kind of love from God. We also pray this prayer with thankful hearts because the Holy Spirit has given us this truth and worked faith in this truth in us. For there are many who do not have this truth. People say that the Christmas season can be hardest time of the year to get through. Well, imagine trying to do it without faith in the love and truth of God. Where is the hope and the peace and the joy without this love and truth? It is nowhere.

John in this letter was writing to believers just like us. He gives them and us the comfort of knowing that as believers God is in us. However everyone else is from the world and they speak from the viewpoint of the world. And as I was saying at the beginning, I know some of our students face this obstacle in their classrooms everyday. They are bombarded with the world's viewpoint instead of the truth of God. I would imagine that many of you are faced with this in your workplace, the viewpoint of the world thrust upon you. Your beliefs may be questioned. Your faith in the absolute truth that God was born a baby in Bethlehem may be mocked. But take courage, because John assures us in God's Word that He is greater than those of the world including the devil.

We need not fear. Stand up and confess the Christmas truth. Speak as one from God. Proclaim the truth of the God-Man Jesus to those around you. Show your faith in words and actions. What a great opportunity we have this Christmas season. As we are all busy trying to find the perfect gifts for everyone on our list, remember that we have the best gift, the gift of a child born in Bethlehem who would grow up to take away the sin of the world. Give that gift often this season, because it God's gift of truth to you.

And celebrate this Christmas. Celebrate with joy that Christ was born in the flesh. Celebrate, I mean really celebrate. As John wrote, "We are from God." This is our Christmas joy, our life's joy, and our eternal joy. Praise God.

Socrates, Hemingway, and Cobain did not have the truth. Yet many have followed and studied their paths. Their way, which is the world's way, can only lead to pain and despair. And I am not just talking about in this life. But their pain and despair in unbelief will last for eternity. We have the truth. It is Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Be comforted in this truth and let the light of this truth shine to those around you. And continually pray this Advent, "Lord Jesus Come to Me With Your Truth."