Speaking the Truth

We live in a world that has great difficulty handling truth. Black and white stark-naked truth is uncomfortable and uncompromising. Grey areas are easier – we can fudge the issues – make our own judgments.  Adam and Eve did this dance in the Garden of Eden when God confronted them with the truth that they had for the first time been conscious of their nakedness.

Genesis 3:11 “God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

A simple question needing a simple straight forward honest answer.  But immediately Adam blamed his wife and Eve blamed the serpent.  We have been having difficulty with truth ever since.  In all recent surveys it is reported that we have the most difficulty with absolute truth, especially this younger generation. Truth it seems today is open to all and any interpretation you want to make it. If truth goes against the grain of our lifestyle, our preconceived ideas, our personal choices then let’s change the truth, for after all there is nothing absolute about truth.

In Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass Humpty Dumpty said to Alice, “When I use a word, it means just what I want it to mean – neither more nor less.” We see this being played out in the gender identity debate today. Biology or science is no longer the defining factor. It’s how a person feels, or personally is inclined to believe, that becomes the determining designation of their sexuality. How did this happen?             Well, once we ditch the bible as the Word of God, and His guidebook and manual on how to live our lives, then what is the yardstick for truth, what do we measure it against? The Western world has largely rejected the Bible as any kind of foundation for morality, ethics or basic honesty.  Watch any discussion panel on TV debate a subject. As soon as someone brings the Bible into it they are shouted down or laughed out of court. 

Isaiah said, “truth has fallen in the street.” (Is.59:14) 

Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth and do not sell it…”  How? What with?  Truth is bought by the currency of faith. Hebrews 4:2 Word mixed with faith Truth is owned by obedience. Difference between buying something and owning it. You could buy something and never use it. Put it in a drawer. Owning it means using it, enjoying it, making it your own.  Buy the truth and do not sell it.   How do you sell it? If you buy it by faith and own it by obedience, then you can sell it by unbelief and lose it by disobedience. 

Ephesians 4:25 “Wherefore putting away lying, speak everyman truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.”

- Pastor David Goudy