Loving the Truth

Loving the Truth

What is a lie?  Is it just telling somebody something that is blatantly untrue?  That’s one kind of lie. A much more common way of lying is creating subtle impressions, allowing others to form wrong conclusions that are encouraged with a wink and a nod, a dropped hint, an arched eyebrow.  But, is that really lying? Yes, it is. We can create an aura of spirituality by dropping the right words or folding our prayers in a prayerful pose. We can devastate another’s reputation without ever explicitly saying a negative word.  In the realm of politics this is called, ‘spin.’  A whole profession has grown up around image-making, teaching people who live in public how to create the right impression or to encourage the slant on the story that puts them in the best light.  And, all of this is an offense to the Lord who calls you and me to authentic living, to love the truth.  

Truth, as a word, is fairly easy to define - the actual state of a matter, conformity with fact, honesty.   Living truthfully is much more difficult.   Admitting to the reality of certain attitudes or thoughts,  acknowledging that we are tempted in certain ways,  dealing with the things we would like not to be true, is a huge challenge.    When I look in the mirror every morning my mind is tempted to superimpose the image of an energetic 30 year old man over the reality staring back at me.  Seriously, it is much more difficult, when I am before the Lord, to acknowledge the realities of my sinful nature that the Spirit brings before me.   When He says, "Jerry, this attitude must change,"  I would rather excuse it or deny it, than deal with it.  

The upside of loving truth is freedom!  The Bible says that "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:23-25, NIV)

Consider the gifts that loving the Truth provides:  

·         Truth makes us free. No one can control us, deceive us, or blackmail us if we live in truth. 

·         Truth opens the door to Christ’s gift of grace that makes us holy. "Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth." (John 17:17-19, NLT)      

·         Truth lets us to live 'in the Light.'  We don’t stumble around, falling into things, hurting ourselves when we live outside of the shadows.    Jesus said, "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you." (John 8:31-32, The Message)    And, "he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." (John 3:21, NKJV)   Interesting statement isn't it?  "Does the truth."    Truth is not abstract nor is it merely philosophical.  We can live it!   

  

Do you love the truth?  
Is your life characterized by honesty, authenticity?  
Do you refuse to play games with yourself and others?  

Living in that way will not necessarily win any popularity contests.  Jesus confronted the world with the truth and they killed Him for it!   But, living in the truth and letting truth shape your life from the inside out will make you whole and holy, a person who conquers temptation and pleases God.    Look for even the smallest kinds of bending the truth in your life and ask God to give you the courage and strength to get it right.

Here's a word from the Word for your thoughts today:   "Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37, NKJV)  No spin, just the Truth!