Thoughts on Truth

Monday, April 29, 2002

Simple Honest Words

"But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay:

for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

(Matthew 5:37)

For the Christian, who respects his word, a simple Yes or No carries as much weight as an elaborate declaration. Complex words hard to understand should be used with less frequency so that all that come within hearing can be edified.

Profanity, foul speech and obscene jests and songs, even the frivolous and insipid conversation, have no place in the Christian’s life; indeed, they are the hallmark of the unregenerate spirit. They are a sign of a corrupt heart, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matt. 12:34).

"These words [Yea, yea; Nay, nay] condemn all those meaningless phrases and expletives that border on profanity. They condemn the deceptive compliments, the evasion of truth, the flattering phrases, the exaggerations, the misrepresentations in trade, that are current in society and in the business world. They teach that no one who tries to appear what he is not, or whose words do not convey the real sentiment of his heart, can be called truthful." Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 104.

Today -- let our words be simple as you seek to edify the name of our Lord and Saviour.

Friday, April 26, 2002

Unspoken Falsehood

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

(Exodus 20:16)

We all understand what it means to lie! Societies have forever had penalties for anyone caught in the act of perjury. In the days of the mighty Greeks, a false witness was heavily fined. If convicted three times, he lost his civil rights. In the days of the Romans, the transgressor was hurled headlong from the Tarpeian Rock to his death. However, falsehood is more than just the spoken word. It is any attempt to deceive!

One great writer said, "An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood…Even the intentional suppression of truth, by which injury may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment." Patriarchs and Prophets, 309.

So this weekend, speak the truth with your entire being.

Friday, April 05, 2002

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23)

Although salvation cannot be purchased, nevertheless it costs all that a man has. Jesus said "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." (Matthew 13:45, 46). Therefore, truth is a treasure to be gained at any cost and never to be relinquished. For in it, is the ability to see clearly and rightly divide all things, which makes the difference between being saved or lost. Like Paul, we who truly "find" Christ will "count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus," and be willing to suffer "the loss of all things" in order to "win Christ" (Phil. 3:8).

Few realize the danger of being in self-deception and the petty price they sell truth and eternal life for. Nevertheless, the closer we come to the Saviour, and the more we study the Word of God, the more our eyes will be opened to the truth of all things. However, if we reject "truth" once it comes and allows the process of self-deception to continue our eyes will be closed and we will go back into darkness. (See 2 Thess. 2:10).

So this weekend in your churches, demand the truth, seek for the truth, pray for the truth and when you find it "SELL IT NOT." Remember -- "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth," (John 4:24).