I love the Truth. When I hear someone being something other than truthful - either through ignorance or willful dishonesty - it stirs up strong emotions in me. Why? Because terrible things are done under the cover of deception by those who choose to live a lie. For example, I remember the whole Watergate mess which someone has said was a 'third rate burglary turned into a first class conspiracy.' What brought down President Nixon was not just the work of a few men who broke into political offices under the cover of night. It was culture of manipulation and dishonesty that rotted his administration from the inside out. Eventually when the lies caught up to him, Nixon was forced to resign. A generation later, President Clinton nearly met the same fate. Why? Because he refused to tell the truth! Caught in a sordid infidelity, he tried to weasel his way out and forever more will be known as the President who wondered what 'is' is!
Truth is important in another sense, too; what we believe is true and thus, becomes the foundation upon which we build our lives. I know a person who is totally convinced that no one should be trusted, that everyone is a adversary against whom she must defend herself. Her whole life has a fortress mentality, is lived defensively and from behind locked doors. Her 'truth' shapes her life. By contrast I know another person who knows that God loves him, that God actively cares and provides for him. He lives joyfully, despite many difficult experiences. He loves and cares for others with a child-like openness supported by his trust in his heavenly Father.
For the Believer, there is a primary source of truth. It is the Holy Scripture that teaches Who God is, What He has done, and How we can please Him. It is powerful! That is why we are cautioned - "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." (2 Timothy 2:15-16, NIV) Correctly handle the Word of Truth! Do you study, know, understand, and apply the truth of the Scripture to your life, Believer? God gave us the Scripture to bring us to life, godliness, and wholeness. The Psalmist says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105, NIV)
I am deeply concerned that many Believers have a superficial knowledge of the Bible - a few verses plucked from favorite passages, but no real grasp of the magnificent wisdom for life found in it. In part this is due to shallow teaching from preachers who are more concerned with drawing a crowd than creating disciples! It is also the result of poor interpretative skill regarding the Bible. John MacArthur, pastor and author, recently published a book called The Truth War. In it he creates a case (overly harsh in my opinion) for adopting a militant stand for the Truth of the Word. In one telling passage, he relates the story of a preacher who mangled the meaning and intent of the Bible to create a sermon that had no basis in Biblical truth. "A preacher preached a sermon from Mark 2, which tells about some men who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus, lowering him through the roof so he could be healed. Mark 2.4 says, "They could not come nigh unto him for the press." (KJV) This man took that phrase as his text and ... sermonized for more than half an hour about how the press - the news media - are still keeping people from Jesus even to this day! But that verse has nothing to do with the news media. "The press" in that context is talking about the dense crowd." - The Truth War, MacArthur, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2007
It is easy (I hope!) to laugh at such an egregious mis-use of the holy text, but it is really no laughing matter. Some Believers who heard that sermon were convinced to become adversaries of the media because of a wholly dishonest presentation masquerading as the Truth! The Truth of the Bible is powerful, life-changing, pointing us to God and eternal life with Him. Let's respect it, learn it, and study it skillfully and with inspiration; for Jesus promised, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!"
___________________________
O Lord our Lord,
How majestic is Your name.
Your words are true,
Your mercy does not change.
All Your promises are precious,
Reviving our faith.
Every one of themWill be fulfilled one day.
Oh, all Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
Your promises are true.
All Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen"
Lord Jesus,
We'll keep running after You.
All Your Promises
© 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
(Admin. by Music Services) CCLI License No. 810055
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