14 April, 2015

Ignoring the Truth

Someone once said, "We ignored truths for temporary happiness." This would explain the American people over the past several years. The truth was not only easy to see, then Senator Obama while on the campaign trail said repeatedly what he would do to "fundamentally transform America." The problem was that people heard, "first black President."  Others saw, "free stuff."  He clearly said he wanted to crush the coal industry and drive utility prices soaring. He stated with no mincing of words that he wanted to see gasoline prices over $5 per gallon so that people would be forced to drive less. He said he wanted to re-distribute the wealth. We can go on and on, but the point is, the people who voted for him simply ignored the truth and went for the pipe dream. When you ignore truth, you are in trouble; but people blindly followed the Pied Piper, oblivious to what was happening to them and around them. 
The truth was ever before them, they simply chose to ignore that truth.

This leads me to one of the most abused and misquoted verses of scripture. People are constantly saying, "And the truth shall set you free."  Yes, that is a correct quote, but it is a partial quote.  Jesus actually said, "If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." People often quote this verse as if Jesus was saying when you know the truth of a situation, that truth will set you free.  That is not what it says. For example; If a couple is having marital problems and one of them is lying, the knowledge of that lie does not set anyone free. In fact, it compounds the problem. No, I am not saying they should cover up the lie. What I am saying is that simple knowledge of the truth of a situation or circumstances does not necessarily set anyone free. The knowledge that a person has a terminal disease does not bring freedom; does it?  So, just what was Jesus saying? It's very simple, yet profound if you read and apply his words in context. Jesus actually said that the only thing that would set you free is the truth that is found in being "in Christ."  The key is found a few chapters over when in John 17:17 Jesus prays for his followers (that's me and you) and he says to the Father, "Sanctify them by the truth. Your Word is truth."  Bingo!

You want freedom? Freedom from bondage, depression, aggression, anger issues,drug addiction (the list is endless)... the answer is not in wrestling out "the truth" of a situation or circumstance... the answer is found only in THE Truth. Jesus Christ IS the truth.

Jesus said, "and you shall KNOW the truth... and the truth shall set you free."  
The question is... do you KNOW Jesus?
He is "the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6)

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