I loved my theology professor
in Bible college,
Dr. Mont Smith.
We were great friends, he and
Deborah and me.
We went sailing together.
We visited often,
We even went to his home in Oregon.
Take a look at this.
Here he is.
He even preached on
the wedding covenant,
at Deborah's and my wedding!
Mont was my mentor.
I got my Bachelor's Degree
in Bible and Linguistics
from Pacific Christian College (PCC),
now called
Hope International University.
I loved Bible college!
I loved studying,
I loved my teachers,
I loved learning
to understand the Bible.
I loved it all.
One day after Convocation
(most call it Chapel),
Mont and I were talking.
And I said to him,
"I love this college.
I want to be loyal to PCC."
I thought he'd be happy
with what I said.
But Mont looked at me.
"David, if this college ever turns
from the purpose of Christ
and His kingdom,
I want you to
pick up that loyalty
and set it down someplace else."
He jolted me with that.
But he was right.
I needed that reminder.
Some of you are
Bible college students,
or you have a favorite church
or preacher that you listen to.
So let me ask you:
where is your loyalty?
Hi, I'm David Daniels
from Chick Publications.
Loyalty is something
we should not take lightly.
Ultimately, my question of loyalty
was decided back in the fall of 1980,
when I said:
"Lord,
even if everything in my body
does not want to obey You,
or go where You want me to go,
or do what You want me to do,
if everything in me is against this,
except my lips,
Lord, please honor me
for the words of my lips:
I want to go,
I want to do it,
I want to obey You.
Take me,
even if I'm kicking and screaming.
I have already given You permission.
Take me, even if I say No then.
I say Yes now.
Please honor me
for the words of my lips."
Now I have said that
again and again, for years.
Many of my friends have heard me
repeat words like that
over the decades.
I'm thinking of it again
and rededicating that prayer to God
even now, while I say it.
I am loyal to my Father in heaven.
I do not trust professors more,
I do not trust teachers more,
I do not trust preachers more,
I do not trust authors more,
I do not trust
my dearest friends more,
I do not trust myself more.
My loyalty is with him.
Psalm 118:8-9
8 "It is better to trust in the LORD
than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD
than to put confidence in princes."
It's not because "I'm a great guy" that
I change when I'm proved wrong.
It has nothing to do with me.
It has to do with the fact
that I want the truth,
and I serve the Father, not myself.
It's where my loyalty rests
that makes all the difference.
Some preachers will tell you
"Gospel tracts don't work."
They are mistaken. I once was.
Some teachers tell you
"Sinaiticus is the oldest and
best Greek text that we've got,"
or Vaticanus.
Look at my last 30-something videos.
It's important that I tell you this.
Because if you decide
to look at my videos,
or read my books,
I'm going to say some stuff
that may not be what you believe.
I will show you evidence for things
that aren't what your professor
or preacher told you.
And it is there
that you will make a decision.
Will you pay attention
to the evidence,
and ask some hard questions,
or will you shut down
and refuse to think about it?
Likely, your decision
will be based upon your loyalty.
I've already made my decision.
I already know
where my loyalty stands.
That's why I'm going to have to
show some new things
I have learned,
that cause me to question
even my own theories
about Sinaiticus.
But it's all for the better.
I know where my loyalty rests.
Where is your loyalty?
God bless you,
and have a wonderful day.
