Truth is Unchanging

Chuckle: The Judge to a defendant: "I thought I told you I never wanted to see you in here again." "Your Honor," the criminal said, "that's what I tried to tell the police, but they wouldn't listen."

Quote: “For us, with the rule of right and wrong given us by Christ, there is nothing for which we have no standard. And there is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.” --"Count Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

"Above all, my brothers, do not swear -- not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your 'Yes' be yes, and your 'No," no, or you will be condemned." (James 5:12 NIV). "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men (people) who are truthful" (Proverbs 12:22 NIV).

Today, we live in a society where truth is becoming relative to the circumstances at the time. There is an absence of absolute truth. Truth is subject to individual interpretation. However, according to God's standards, truth is absolute and never changes. As a Christian, Let your character and reputation be such that when you say "yes" or "no" to something there is no doubt what you mean.

To be truthful means we can be trusted to do what we say we will do. You don't even need to say, "I promise." You will be so trusted that complete confidence in you will be based on the one word: "Yes" or "No." Both Jesus and James say our words should be totally truthful and trustworthy. We should never use exaggerations, half-truths, or embellishments. Such twisting of the truth is nothing more than lies. By avoiding any indication of being untruthful, you will become known as a trustworthy person. If you are a trustworthy Christian, people will listen when you share with them the gospel message. Your words will have value and credibility.

A man came to his music teacher and asked "what's the good news today?" In silence the old teacher picked up a hammer and a struck a tuning fork. As the note sounded out through the room, he said, "that is an A. It is A today; it was A five thousand years ago, and it will be an A ten thousand years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall flats on his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune." He struck the note again and said, "that is A, my friend, and that's the good news for today." Like the "A," truth never changes. It is lasting and absolute.

Although James is speaking mainly about truthful words, let's expand on truth briefly as it applies to our relationships with God and others. Our problem is not that truth changes, but rather it's our limited ability to understand it -- and our sinful desire to fashion the truth to fit our selfish view of life. That's where God's Word comes in. By focusing on the Scriptures and depending upon the Holy Spirit for illumination, we can know and live by the truth as God reveals it to us. Jesus said, "if you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (from sin)" (John 8:31-32 NIV).

Love, Jerry & Dotse