Our Lord declared, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). There can be no real freedom without the truth. Where truth is suppressed, personal liberties do not exist. Illustrations of this fact can be found all over the world. The opponents of truth sought to suppress it in the early history of our nation, but the advocates of truth would not compromise it, and First Amendment freedoms were secured.

Truth is and has always been under constant attack. The Prophet Isaiah long ago wrote, “Truth is fallen in the street” (Isa. 59:14). The Apostle Paul referred to those who hold down or suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18). God’s truth was first assailed by Satan (Gen. 3:1-5) of whom Jesus said, “There is no truth in him” (John 8:44). While always seeking to suppress the truth, the devil and his disciples mislead the masses into believing his lies by promising them liberty. Of such the Apostle Peter ironically explained, “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Pet. 2:19).

Freedom is not the right to do as one chooses; it is the power to do what is right. People who believe the devil’s lies—that they can do as they choose—find themselves in bondage to him and to their own lusts. Those who enjoy real liberty discover they can do what is right without being intimidated or persecuted for it. Such freedom is not only under attack in the world, it is under attack in our nation. While laws are being passed to permit acts which are an abomination to the Lord, other laws are being passed to prohibit the reading and preaching of God’s Word. Why would anyone want to silence God’s Word? The reason is, His Word is truth (John 17:17), and a deceived people hate the truth.