The Truth That Stings

I love people who speak truth even though there is a human side of me that is tempted to be offended. There's something compelling about the friend who hands you the bare black facts without sugar coating. The one who makes you take a step back at the ouch and ponder a bit before you mend your ways! Throughout the last few weeks, God has been impressing on my heart more and more how important it is for us to know the truth and walk in it. 

David charged forward in battle because he knew that God would help him conquer. Sarah trusted and honored Abraham without fear because she honoured the God who had called him. Paul shared the Gospel across the ancient world because he was convinced it was true. 

We live in a time where truth is questioned, criticized, and down-sized to fit agendas and personal goals. Churches are changing, people are changing, and society is changing. Indeed, change is part of life. I used to think that perhaps we as Christians ought to give up some things in order to reach a world that is so far off. While I don't disregard the necessity of being approachable and friendly in our lives, or turn a blind eye to the places where tradition receives more emphasis than salvation, we dare not compromise truth in our efforts to reach the lost. As stated by Chuck Smith, "When the church starts looking like the world to reach the world, she's already lost her power." 

Everyone knows that when extending a rope into a pit to a drowning man, the person at the top must be firmly anchored lest he also fall in. Likewise in the spiritual sense, we have a beautiful and timeless rope that we can extend to lost people. That rope is Christ and He is able to reach into any lifestyle, age level, and nationality. However, in the process of sharing Him with dying souls, we must stay anchored to Him, lest we fall into the pit with them.

If our generation and the next is to stay faithful and solid, we must acquire a love and zeal for truth. We must dig for it, hang onto it, and teach it. Children need truth, parents need truth, youth need truth, pastors need truth, teachers need truth... Everybody needs truth for the Truth will set us free. (John 8:32)

Out world is crying for it, our churches need it, and our personal lives depend on it. We must stand for truth.