The Traps Around The Truth

Joshua Crawford

In the old Indiana Jones movies, Indy always knew he was getting close to the treasure or artifact when deadly traps started appearing. Sharp spikes, floors that gave way, and even a giant rolling stone; all would work against Indy when he got close to anything valuable. After all, who bothers to protect anything worthless? As you get closer to Jesus, life’s most essential truth, many traps await.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Though the Son of God walked among men and performed countless miracles no amount of books could hold (John 21:25), many of the religious elite would not believe. According to the Jewish historian Jocephus, the Pharisees were the “most expert and accurate expositors of Jewish law.” This means the Pharisees knew their Old Testament, including the 400+ prophecies predicting the life and death of Jesus; they still could not believe what was right in front of them. Why?

Jesus is the most valuable truth of this world; Jesus himself said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) With such a precious treasure, it’s understandable that Satan would place traps – unbelieving people, evil spirits, or difficult circumstances – in the way. “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.” (Jude 1:18-19) Many divisive people, like the Pharisees, stand in front of the truth, discouraging our pursuit of the fruits of the Spirit like, “love, joy peace, patience kindness, goodness…” (Galatians 5:22) and push us into the works of the flesh like, “…strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions…” (Galatians 5:20).

What’s the answer? How do we not miss Jesus right in front of us? Jude explains, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God…” (Jude 1:20-21) Indiana Jones didn’t always see the traps coming, but if we stay in Scripture, prayer, and in God’s unfailing love, we can identify our enemy’s work and safely sidestep his traps. The treasures found in Jesus are worth more than any artifact Indy ever risked his life for!