AUTHENTIC ADMIRER OF TRUTH

Truth is a character trait we admire but give little credence to its validity. There are reasons for this seemingly paradoxical approach to truth. The following is an examination of two of those reasons.

First, truth is singular by nature. Truth does not allow another to occupy the same space. It is, we might say, jealous in this way. There is never room for truth plus anything else in the place where truth resides.

A case in point is the Word of God, or what Christians refer to as the Bible. When Jesus prayed to God the Father (as recorded in John chapter seventeen) He prayed for all disciples of all ages by saying, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17). Jesus' simple declaration establishes that the words that proceed from God are truth, the whole truth, and the only truth!

To further establish the fact of God's Word being the only truth, consider these verses. "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you" (Deuteronomy 4:2). Likewise, a similar statement is made in Revelation 22:18-19. In the Revelation verses, there is added the warning that those who add to the prophecies in the book will have plagues added to them, and those who take away from the book will have their part taken away from the Book of Life. All of which goes to show that God's Word and it alone occupies the exalted position of TRUTH!

Although man says he admires truth, he acts reprehensibly toward the truth he supposedly admires. Instead of acknowledging truth, he spends his time denying truth. Instead of following truth as revealed, he spends his time explaining away the force of truth.

Our second and last point addresses how man deals with those who would bring them truth.

Jesus the Christ came to this world as the embodiment of truth (John 14:6). He spoke prophetically of how He would be received when He said, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God" (John 3:19-21). Jesus was despised by the many because He always spoke the truth. Something men cannot abide.

Men say they admire the truthful, yet persecute the teller of truth. Men swear to tell the truth, yet they will 'spin' a lie to make it appear as if it were the truth. This being the case, are we doomed? "Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: 'That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged'" (Romans 3:4).

The authentic admirer of truth knows the source of truth, loves the bringer of truth, and welcomes the bite of truth. He knows that truth illuminates the soul that it might grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18).

By Glen Young

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