Dear Elim Grace,

The things we are doing are true things, not just good things.

Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” (John 14:6) This is a statement of objective and ultimate reality, not subjective and personal preference. It’s what IS, not what’s good for me, as in useful or practical or inspiring or comforting (though, of course, it is all those things, too).

John wrote about Jesus, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”  (1 John 5:20–21) We can know the Truth and we can live in the Truth.

Christianity is not at the center about churches and ministries and buildings and budgets. But, rather, about The Truth of all things: Jesus Christ, He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He is the true joy of every heart. He is the true satisfaction of every heart. He is the true freedom of every heart. He is the true hope of every heart. He is the true peace of every heart. He is the true healing of every heart. He is the true purpose and meaning and significance of every heart. He is the true salvation of every heart.

So, we are not only, and not of first importance, building something useful and serving in useful ways at Elim Grace. We are living in The Truth. We are building on The Truth. We are walking with The Truth. We are following after The Truth. We are proclaiming The Truth. We are doing what we’re doing because we believe that Jesus Christ is The Truth of God for the world, in the world and about the world. It is The Truth that sets you free. And it is where the Spirit of Truth is that there is freedom.

We are doing true things, Elim Grace, not just good things. Not just useful things. For “you (God) have exalted above all things your name and your word” (Psalm 138:2). There is The Name above all names and The Word above all words. We live in and under the truth of God’s promises and God’s character. Promises that find their Yes, and character that finds its expression, in Jesus Christ alone. HE stands above our needs and preferences and feelings and conditions and circumstances, which are always changing. HE never changes, though, but is the same yesterday, today and forever.

God will be TRUE to His word and to His name in Christ Jesus. So let’s stand on Christ. Let’s grow BIG in Christ. For the things we are doing are true things, not just good things.

Pastor Jonathan