It’s important to understand the intentions of the heart with how and where truth comes from. Suffice it to say real truth is not within mankind himself, it is only seen as useful in non-believers where they adopt parts of the truth from the Ten Commandments to make a society possible at all. The real Truth is all about who God is and we Christians worship His Truth.
There is a profound difference between those who follow and believe in God and the Salvation of Jesus Christ with those who don’t. That difference deals with the incentive to follow God’s Truth or to follow mankind’s convention of making up the rules as you go.
Incentives involving the non-believers, the secular, and the atheists is simple to decipher. Using the secular sciences to promote humanism is big business. Most individuals since the fall of man are very receptive to any “authoritative” proclamations denying a belief in God and His Righteousness. This is seen in today’s world with their being secular experts in the humanities and the sciences which are welcomed with open arms. These self-proclaimed experts can ask for and receive federal grants to further espouse and perpetuate the humanism they want to protect. They then use that to further indoctrinate others using those ‘pet’ projects they’ve created. This of course will lead to more grants, and that will lead to more money ad Infineum. Money and power are huge incentives to further their denial of the real truths of God which they wish to ignore.
God has been aware of these pitfalls since He first began reaching out to a fallen world. They are pointed out in the very first book written and used in the Bible. Beginning in the book of Job we read (NASB) Job 1: 1, “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” The scripture then proclaims that Satan was allowed to test Job but he couldn’t kill him. As calamity and disaster struck, Job had three friends who originally came to comfort him. It continues with their pre-conceived descriptions that Job had done wrong and why he was in this predicament. Job denied being unrighteous and of that being the cause for his distress.
Later at the point of Jobs greatest despair he says in Job 10: 18-19, “18‘Why then did You bring me out of the womb? If only I had died and no eye had seen me! 19I should have been as though I had not been, brought from womb to tomb.’ Ultimately God intervenes and He puts an end to any illusions to how great man thinks he is. In Job 38: 1-4 God tells us, “1Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 2‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me! 4Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, 5who set its measurements. Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?” At this point all of mankind should be truly humbled by the Glory, Majesty, and Justice of the One True God.
The New Testament has a passage that also explains the folly and even evil that lurks within man’s hearts. In Romans 1: 18-22 it says, “18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth [l]in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident [m]within them; for God made it evident to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21For even though they knew God, they did not [n]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools.”
Another poignant example of incentive coming from the New Testament how the religious leaders enjoyed the privileges of their position. They were revered and given the best places to sit at the festivals because of their self-appointed importance. That haughty elitism was part and parcel to Jesus calling them a brood of vipers. That elitist attitude continues today in the way those self-deceiving fools look at and talk down to Christians, who actually know and follow the Truth.
Knowing this about who man, in his fallen state, is there is indeed an incentive for Christian believers to tell others about the One True God, and His eternally established moral behaviors and how to be saved from our despicable fallen condition. God has told us we are His spokespersons to a fallen world. In Matthew 28: 19 God has told us to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” By helping others to know what the Gospel is and how it brings true life to one now and forever into eternity brings a Christian great joy and a great satisfaction by doing our part.
Ultimately, secular humanism leaves one cold and unsatisfied while Christianity brings joy, connecting all the dots. It gives us an opportunity to know Truth. The truths of God’s Word. Jesus Himself and His Spirit helps guide us in how to live our lives and interact with those around us. Hopefully that will help others to experience the same saving grace we ourselves have experienced.
So we see in each and every facet of Interpretation, of intentionality, and of incentive; being followers of Christ Jesus gives us the tools to live out our lives in the truth.