What is the truth? And who do you try to please?

 

“Now, do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the one I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Every day we face a choice. Simple as it sounds, it is a hard choice. Who are you trying to please with your life? Are you trying to please people or God? Try to make people accept you? Or are you trying to get the acceptance of God?

The enemies of the Apostle Paul have accused him by saying he is a pleaser of people and tries to get the acceptance of people. However, when you read his epistles, do you understand him as a people pleaser or God pleaser? He faithfully proclaimed the pure and true gospel that is entrusted to him. He preached and wrote Jesus is the only way to God, and there is no other way.

Jesus himself stated the truth of the gospel when he said, “ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. Apostle Peter, who was with the Lord Jesus in his earthly ministry, declared this to the rulers and elders of the people, “Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12.

Apostle John wrote this as the last verse of his book in John 20:31, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:22-25, God’s salvation or God’s righteousness is given to people freely by their faith in Christ Jesus because all people everywhere have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Listen to what he wrote, “This righteousness (means God’s righteousness or salvation) is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,   and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,  through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.”

The background of our insight is standing for the truth of the gospel of God. Even though His enemies accused Paul of seeking acceptance from people, the truth is this- when it comes to the gospel of God, he was not a men pleasure or did not seek approval from People. He faithfully proclaimed the gospel. In contrast, his enemies were the people-pleasers because they wanted the approval of people by accepting the multiway salvation theory invented by humans. God has only one way to reach to him for his salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. That is the person and work of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. There are no several ways or multi ways to God. Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:3-6, “this is good, and pleases God our savior, who wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. And for this purpose, I was appointed a herald and an apostle- I am telling the truth, I am not lying- and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.”

You see, God wants all people to be saved by coming to the knowledge of the truth. The truth He wishes to acknowledge is “there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, Christ Jesus. Because Jesus is the only one who gave himself as a ransom for all people everywhere, by shedding his divine blood for the atonement of people’s sin.

Humanity’s salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life are available in Jesus Christ. This is ‘the truth’!

Are you a people pleaser or a God pleaser? Are you for the acceptance of people or the acceptance of God? You cannot expect both. Either you would please God, or you would please people. If you want to please God and want to get the acceptance of God, then faithfully acknowledge and preach the truth God revealed for our salvation and eternal life. Our today’s insight also says, “If I wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” You see, you cannot please people and continue living as a servant of Christ.

When it comes to the good news of the gospel, you can not be vague. It is crystal clear no one else can save people because there is no other name given from heaven and God for man’s salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.

I hope you would not waste your time in this life trying to please people and looking for the clapping of their hands. Live to please God and enjoy his acceptance.

“Father in heaven, I believe I can get forgiveness of my sins, salvation, and eternal life in Jesus. I repent of my sins and call His name for help. Please save me and grant me eternal life. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for me and my sins. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”