Whose Truth Sets You Free?

It amazes me that in a cynical, sinful world that is scornful about the things of God, I frequently hear snippets of Biblical sayings in television shows, movies, and songs and see quotes in books and articles.  I hear God's name and the name of Jesus spoken - not necessarily always in vain.  Characters will even "pray", after a fashion, asking questions of God or asking God to help them in a situation.

I heard one such reference the other day in a television drama.  The main character was confronted with the real story of an event from her teenage years and in that new knowledge, she had to face something she didn't want to know about a family member.  She, as the narrator in this scene, said, "They say the truth sets you free......," and continued talking about what she had learned.

John 8:32 And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

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

But "the truth" that she was referring to is not the same as Jesus being "the truth"  Truth is not just facts or a motto that you live by or even a scripture. Truth is a Person.

Truth is more than a set of principles.  It's more than a body of knowledge.  All the principles and knowledge in the world cannot free you from the mess that you, being human, have created.  Facts can't forgive your sin, free you from your bondage or guide your future.  All facts can do is contribute to your human reasoning.  I think we all realize how fallible that can be.

Jesus is the Truth - not a truth, or one of the truths, but THE TRUTH.  Yes, He will use the "truths" in His Word to mold and shape us, but the first truth we have to know is that He is THE entry point; the one who all of the facts and mottos and scriptures have to be viewed through to make any sense in our lives. 

You've probably heard people in the media talking about "Living Your Truth" like it's some sort of new religion - and in a way, I guess it is.  The way that people have twisted and manipulated real truth from the beginning of time has created a maze of ideas and creeds and slogans and lifestyles until there is total confusion in the minds of many. Our own "truth" is flawed from the beginning and trying to live it leaves us just stewing in the same cesspool in which we've always been immersed.

The quote that "Christianity isn't a religion - it's a relationship" may be overused, but it's certainly not over-experienced.  Even many who go to a church that's considered a Christian denomination may still never have really met "The Truth" or had their lives changed by Him.

It doesn't take much to see that the world needs real truth, because each of us living by our own is causing nothing but pain, stress, conflict, and foolishness.  I don't know how many times in the last few years I've either heard or said, "The world's gone crazy".  We all need the only real truth that has ever existed - the person of Jesus.

Don't Sweat the Details

I am an organizer.  I like to sit down and plan all the little details of a project or a vacation.  Maybe part of the reason for my desire for order is a need to be in control.  Writing those lists of steps makes me feel ready to begin an undertaking, while just jumping into the activity seems too frightening without those boundaries written down in black and white.

The weekly Bible study group that meets at our house each week is doing a study on prayer.  One of the aspects we discussed last week was having "childlike faith".  I began to think about what childlike faith really looks like in real life. 

When I was a child, our family was fortunate enough to take many trips - most of them in an RV to various state and national parks.  Whether the trip was a weekend in a campground an hour away from the house or a two-week vacation to the American West, my parents always had full responsibility for preparing for the big expedition.

Mom and Dad would tell us that we were going somewhere on a specific date and then my sister and I just went about our normal childhood lives until the day it was time to leave and then we'd jump in the back seat of the car and just go.  I don't recall ever asking my parents if they had a map of the route (pre-GPS) or if they had cashed a check for expenses (pre-ATM) or if they had packed enough clothes for me to wear.  I didn't worry about the logistics of dealing with four people and a dog and all their needs.  I didn't fret about the itinerary or the car or RV maintenance or tickets to any attractions we'd visit.  I was just a passenger in a vehicle that would ultimately take me to my desired destination. I believed the promise of my parents and I just trusted that everything would go well.

How many times in my own life have I worried and wondered about how God would take care of a situation?  How many times did I despair in financial need because I could not imagine how in the world He would bring the provision to me?  Just because I can't see the planning He does behind the scenes does not mean He isn't using His own divine strategy to bring about a result that is far superior to my earthly solutions.

If you have a problem with your vehicle and you take it to the shop, you don't go back every morning to drive it around to see if you can pinpoint the trouble.  You leave it in the hands of the repairman who has the knowledge, tools, and expertise to diagnose the problem and restore the car to working condition.  Taking it out of the shop's hands every day just delays the resolution and potentially could cause more damage to your car.

When you take a situation to God, you have to leave it with Him.  If you keep taking it back to worry and strategize and fuss with it, you aren't giving Him the time to solve it and you could be causing more harm to yourself and others when you don't trust His plan.

I don't claim to understand God's ways or His timing or His reasons for doing what He does.  I only know that in those situations where I can back off and give Him complete control, He brings about the right answer at the right time.  I don't have to sweat the details - I can leave them in His hands.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.   Proverbs 3:5-6

See Them the Way God Sees Them

A few months ago, I walked into the sanctuary of my church and was pleasantly surprised to see someone I had not seen for quite some time.  There had been a moral failure in this individual's life and the details were common knowledge.  I was happy to see they were back in church because I knew that, failure or not, they would be loved and encouraged into a right relationship with God.

I went to tell my husband about seeing this person.  My husband is not always great with remembering the names of people.  I often have to describe someone's appearance or tell him where they sit in the congregation or remind him of an event or a conversation with the person so he can put a face to the description. On this occasion, I found myself describing the person by what they had done wrong, but almost immediately the Holy Spirit reminded me that God sees this person through the blood of Jesus - spotless and acceptable to Him.  God sees the potential in their life - the purpose and plan He has for them.  

I know that repentance is necessary for forgiveness and I'm hoping that has already taken place, but we as Christians also need to look at those who have fallen with those same eyes of compassion, remembering the times that we also have failed.  If you described me by my failures and sins, you'd be missing the big picture. You'd be seeing something that is past; something God chooses not to remember anymore.  You'd miss the amazing vision that He sees for my future.

1 Samuel 16:7 says ".......For the Lord does not see as man sees; for a man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  

I don't know what is going on in the life of this person, but God does and though the failure may end up being part of a glorious testimony, I resolve that I will not look upon them as the person who sinned but as the prodigal who returned to the Father.