Truth

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The truth is that my son spilled water on my computer and it appears to be dead. . . that is why there was no post yesterday. I am borrowing my hubby’s for the time being. Thanks for your grace friends.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Jesus is truth.

And this post has been brewing in my mind for a while now because I think it’s something that really needs to sink in. And unfortunately I think we live in a world where “truth” has become very subjective based on one’s own “personal” interpretations and opinions.

So last week I talked about grace right? And in the church I believe we focus a lot on love and grace. God love us all and freely gives His grace, an amazing gift we don’t deserve.

And all of these things are great to think about. Yes, absolutely the Greatest Commandment is Love God and Love others.

But. . . there is such a thing as truth. God’s truth which should affect that way we (as Christians) live out our lives.

Now, if we don’t have a relationship with Christ and don’t want one; that’s one thing. I guess one is free to act however one wants according to one’s own values.

However, when we claim to be Christ followers, there is a standard. There is truth. He is truth.

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

And it makes really sad when I hear of or read other Christians who have re-defined truth to fit into our culture.

Things like:

“If Jesus were here today He would probably. . .”

“He’d be OK with. . . ”

“He doesn’t care about . . . ”

I get it though; there are parts of the scripture that have become “outdated”. Yes, women wear pants, we are allowed to speak in church; we can eat shellfish, etc.

I’m not going to get all theological here and talk about the “Law” and how Jesus came to fulfill the Law and how in Him there is salvation for both Jews and Gentiles (us) and so it doesn’t really matter what we eat, etc. Because that’s a long conversation and I am not a theologian.

What I do want to say is that the Word is still truth. Now as it was then. We can try to guess what Jesus would think about our present day but we have no idea.

What we do have is a record of His words and actions in the bible. We also have the words of His followers, friends and even His half-brother. I think they probably knew Him pretty well, right?

James, Jesus’ brother says this:

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” James 4:4-5

And John, one of His very best friends:

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

And Peter, His close friend who He entrusted to lead the church:

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” “1 Peter 1:14-15

I think these three guys knew Jesus well so they wouldn’t have written just arbitrary words just because. No, they knew that there were standards He desired us to live by.

Now this might seem pretty basic, like duh of course there is sin and we should try to be holy, etc.

But “sin” seems to be a little vague and somewhat open to interpretation these days.

Sin, literally means to “miss the target” or be off the mark.

We can live however we want, we can do whatever we want, yet when we “miss the target” of where God would like for us to be, we also miss His blessing.

I can tell you in my own life that I’m pretty sure I missed the mark when I found myself unmarried and pregnant at age 18. Now, was there grace? Yes! Where there consequences of not being on target with God’s plans? Yes.

And it was hard. And there was pain and suffering and I still live with the consequences and I know God was there through it all but by doing my own thing, by ignoring His mark and making up my own “targets” I also missed out on some of the blessing that comes with obedience.

There have been times when I have truly be confused about what is the “right” thing, taking the “Christian” view, not judging but loving, etc. and I have prayed fervently over my convictions and asked the Lord to change my heart if I am wrong. And in some things He has, in others He has not.

And so I apologize for being a little long-winded today. But this; truth, it’s something I pray we will not lose. No matter what goes on in our culture. I pray our compass for truth would always be pointed directly at Jesus.

He is truth.

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