I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6.

Everything Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, teaches us is for a reason. He shows us the way and the truth and the life that is real. I have struggled with the second verse cited above because we live in a world saturated with lies and hate. I realized last night as I was praying, that Jesus, the Son, overcame the hate and lies of this world denying Him, by His love. His love overcomes all darkness. It’s the only way. And He is our help and strength as we trust Him. And our chapter, Ezekiel 13, contrasts the truth God always gives with the lies of false prophets. The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect Him to fulfill their words. Have you not seen false visioins and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?…Because they lead My people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall…So I will pour out My wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.’” v. 1-7, 10-11, 15-16. In the notes below: “13:10-12 These false prophets covered their lies (a “flimsy wall”) with “whitewash” – a pleasing front. Such superficiality can’t hold up under God’s scrutiny.” And the next verses dealt with women who were practicing witchcraft…“Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of My people but preserve your own? You have profaned Me among My people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live…Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save My people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.’” v. 17-19, 22-23.

Does all of this matter today? How can it not? Any life affected by hate or lies matters. Creator God understands that and shows us a better way that brings hope. When we trust in lies, we fall when those lies collapse around us. A solid foundation that is true is that we are loved by Creator God and He is our help to understand so great a love that overcomes all the hurt of darkness. His love brings healing. I want to spend eternity understanding so great a love. Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5.