How is Truth Manifested in Our Lives?

When you were growing up your parents probably said to you, “Now tell me the truth.” At that point you were probably trying to decide what you could do to get away with the least amount of personal pain. In the culture that we live in today, it is often hard to determine what the “truth” is much less to determine if someone is telling the “truth”. And, like when we were kids, we generally are averse to causing any trouble or pain for ourselves.

 As a Christian we are urged by the Spirit to tell the Truth. As a Christian we can identify with two different “truths”, the “Truth” of God and the “truth” we experience as we live our life as a Christian. The first Truth, that of God, can be found in many places in the Bible. In the Old Testament, Daniel had a vision where he was told what was written in the “Book of Truth” (Dan 10:21). Jesus tell us that he is “the way the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). The Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of truth” (Jn 14:17). With the Bible as our guide, as Christians we find the first “Truth” in our relationship with God by modeling our lives after Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is the easier of the two “truths,” as it is the path that all true Christians are attempting to live.

The second “truth” is much harder to find and to practice, because it is the truth that is lived out among other Christians and non-Christians in our everyday life. This truth is harder because how we handle it affects our relationship with God, our relationship with other people and how we are viewed by others. This second “truth” is also found in the Bible. It is found in; “the word of the Lord from your mouth” (1 Ki 17:24), when you are an “honest witness” (Pr 12:17), when you tell the truth to your employers (Pr 22:21), how you are viewed by others (Jn 3:21), how you perish when you turn from the truth (2 Th 2:10), what happens when you don’t tell the truth (Isa 59:14-15),and many other passages which deal with living truthfully.

Knowing about the second truth is not the whole answer, as each situation is different and we know that we are called to love one another.  Suppose that there is a fellow coworker that is in financial trouble and has been taking money from the office coffee fund. Suppose that you saw your neighbor in a compromising way with someone who is not their spouse. Suppose you are in the hospital visiting with your dying relative and they want to know if they will live. Suppose you know someone who is abusing alcohol or drugs. In all situations how you handle what you do next affects more than just you and that person. Acting or not acting on the “truth” of the situation has consequences no matter what. As a Christian we must act on the truth, but we are also told to love one another and that is what we must do (Eph 4:15). Acting on the “truth” first before considering the effect on others and yourself is not showing love for all involved and neither is inaction showing love for all.

In all the above examples, inaction is not an option because that is against what God would have you do. Doing the wrong thing or nothing will harm that person, other people or yourself. You must become involved, but you are not alone because God is with you. Turn to Him in prayer and let His Spirit guide your own spirit in your course of action. There is no guarantee that you will like the outcome, but you are guaranteed that God will approve of your actions on His behalf. You can then be assured that the outcome is the best that you could do with the help of His Spirit, for you have become the instrument of God’s love.

The Disciple group suggests that after Sunday this week, when you see someone who is struggling, pray for them. As you are praying for them, ask yourself how you personally can get involved with helping them to sort through their problem. This may be support emotionally, financially or your time. In any case, open yourself up to allow God’s Spirit to show them His and your love through your helping hands.