Article: Valiant for the Truth

When we think of the word "valiant", we think of bravery, courage, and valour. It reminds us of the character called Valiant for Truth in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, who fought the battles of the Lord and had the scars of battle to prove it. This is a word found in many places in the scriptures regarding the men of faith in the Old Testament who were valiant for the truth. Joshua and Caleb were valiant men who were ready to obey God at a moments notice. Moses, who started out timid and unsure but became a mighty man of valour. We can also think of Gideon, who the angel of the Lord called "mighty man of valour" eventhough he did not know it. We also think of King David who valiantly fought Goliath, a giant of the Philistine. We could go on and on. One thing is common among these mighty men of valour was their fear of God and love for the God of Israel. We can think of the prophets Elijah, Micaiah, and Jeremiah, etc.. who spoke the truth in contrast to what was popularly spoken by the false prophets.

We need not stop at them. In the New Testament we have the apostles who started out fearful and timid, but after Pentecost became mighty men of valour. They were beaten, stoned, and put in prison. Paul, Silas and Peter were willing to speak the gospel truth in obedience to Christ eventhough it was not popular. We also think of all the disciples of Christ who were thrown to the lions or burn by the Emperors of Rome. And of the Anabaptist martyrs or the martyrs of the Inquisition who stood for the gospel truth at the expense of their own lives.

In the book of Jude verse 3, Jude writes, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." In this verse Jude, the brother of James, says he gave all diligence. Jude was constant. He was not idle or negligent to write of the common salvation, that is, the salvation available to all men, great or small, the pure gospel message. Also, he says we should earnestly contend for the faith. To be earnest means to be zealous, intent, serious, grave. This is what we need to be regarding the faith that is available to all men and in regards to the whole word of God, this faith once delivered unto the saints.

I believe, as we have seen in the scripture, that our Lord is seeking out a people who will be valiant for the truth in the earth in these last days. Paul says in his second epistle to Timothy, his son in faith, to "Preach the word; be instant in season,out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they (the church) will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears for the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim 4:2-4)

Here Paul says they will heap to themselves false teachers. To heap means there will be an over abundance of false teachers. They will be everywhere. We see this in New Evangelical circles today, in the new 'self-esteem' gospel and the charismatic 'give me a tingling down my spine' gospel.

The gospels of men like Robert Schuler and his positive mental attitude gospels and other false prophets are everywhere today and indeed the church has turned from the truth to fables. Many so called "men of God" today spend most of their time undermining the Word of God. They vaunt themselves as "Higher textual critics." Believing that God has called them to correct the Bible instead of believing it and preaching it in our Authorized Version. They believe that it is their business to correct God. The Word of God was given to us to correct us in the way of salvation and truth not for us to correct God. Oh! What would God do without them to keep Him in line? Our God is seeking a people who will be valiant for the Word of God and will stand against the false prophets and devices of Satan, who are seeking to water down and destroy the Holy Scriptures.

In II Thessalonians 2:3, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." The son of perdition is the antichrist who will come in the last days particularly Jacob's Trouble or seven years of great tribulation. This falling away is in reference to professing Christians. There must be a great falling away amongst professing Christians. A falling away from the Holy Truth of God to fables and worldliness, where the professing church is no different from the world. As Christians today follow the fashions of this world and ungodliness, anybody with eyes to see can perceive that the outward professing church, in general, has turned from the truth of God and is trying to gain popularity in the world. As in the Laodicean Church of Revelation 3:14-22, Christ would exhort to buy gold tried in the fire (pure truth and righteousness), and white raiment (holiness of Christ). They need to anoint their eyes with salve that they may see. A great repentance is necessary if souls are to be saved in a real way, instead of "easy believism". Christ stands at the door and knocks. Will we open that door and let Him in or let Him knock as we go our own merry way? Will we be valiant for the truth or fall away with the multitude? Let us preach the clear gospel message of Christ and His redemptive work of repentance and true salvation. Paul again exhorts Timothy saying, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (I Timothy 4:16).