The Truth Will Set You Free

John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

In the tenth chapter of Matthew we encounter a group of men huddled in a crude fishing boat cowering under the force of the surmounting wind and waves. In fear and dread, they behold a man walking towards them over the wind-tossed waves. He calls out and encourages them with words of comfort. ‘Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.’ And Peter, full of passion and impetuosity, implores Jesus to bid he come to him walking on the water. And so Peter full of faith in that moment, does what no man had ever done before.

But Peter’s faith soon vanishes as he looks at the turbulence around him. As a result, he begins to sink. Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said those memorable words, ‘O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’

We learn something critical in this brief drama: faith is an activity that must be applied. Peter had faith, and rightly used it, but did not continue to exercise his faith in Jesus to its full capacity. We must focus our faith continuously on the problem we face, despite the hardship and obstacles that may arise and actively use and depend upon it to the end. If we don’t fear will rise up and overwhelm us.

Many Christians believe that doubts are incompatible with our faith. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In this case, Peter still had faith but it failed to exercise it fully because doubts swamped it. Jesus said to this disciple, ‘O though of little faith.’ He did not say, ‘Peter, because you have doubts, you have no faith at all.’ However, it is what we do with those doubts that will determine whether we will move forward or sink down in a heap. Though we have doubts and are fearful and because of this our faith is weak, we must not let those doubts rise up and take control. Doubts will attack us, fears will come, but that does not mean we are to allow them to master us.

Peter had some faith, but he needed greater faith. One that would have caused him to keep walking across that stormy sea. One that would have enabled him to keep his gaze fixed upon His Savior, not the billowing waters. One that would have brought him success and the greatest glory to God. It is little faith that allows people to be mastered by fear and doubts. Therefore, the antidote for a small faith is a great faith.

So how do we acquire a greater faith? By acquiring a deeper knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and His power, and a growing steady and unwavering trust and confidence in Him. If Peter had had this, he would never have looked down and given into the fear and doubts that assailed him.

The Christian faith in its entirety is about growing in our knowledge of the truth. The truth about our Lord. This is not a feeling about Him in our heart, but a deep understanding of who this blessed person is, as we learn in the Scriptures. The more we take the trouble and time to learn about Christ in the Bible, the deeper our faith becomes and the less we will doubt His desire and ability to help us in times of need.

The truth is that the truth about Jesus will indeed set us free. (John 8:31-32). Free from doubts or fears, free from anxiety and depression, free from those circumstances that bring us down. Free to rise above whatever is grieving and ailing us right now. It is the truth that frees – the truth about Jesus, in His person, in His work, in His love for those who are His disciples and in His future glory. If our knowledge of these truths is defective (and tragically, for so many it is), we will be unable to live the full abundant life that our Lord promised to those who would follow Him (John 10:10).

Is your faith growing as you encounter the truth about Jesus in the Scriptures? Are you prepared to give yourself more and more to learning about Him? But even beyond this, are you yielding yourself to His divine instruction, leaning on Him and trusting in His Sovereignty in all situations?

Like Peter who started so well, we need to put our entire faith in Jesus when the wind and waves come up suddenly to swamp us. But then, rather than being overwhelmed by doubts and fears, we need to keep our eyes fixed upon our dear Savior and on Him alone, assured of His goodness, dependent upon His wisdom and trusting in His everlasting love for us.

“Heavenly Father, I have a faith that is quickly ambushed by fears and doubts. Help me in my weakness. Increase my faith. Increase my love for you and your Word and open my heart and mind so that I may grow in understanding of the truth and the truth about you, Jesus. Amen.”