The Christian and The Truth: How to Live in Reality
Base Texts: John 8:32; Ephesians 4:25
Introduction
The Uncomfortable Nature of Truth: Truth is often rejected in our world because it is confrontational. It wounds human pride, exposes our hidden faults, and uncovers our sin. Because of this, the human heart often finds a comfortable lie more attractive than a difficult truth.
A Divine Mandate: Despite how much it may hurt or what it may cost, the truth is a divine requirement. For the child of God, truth is not a suggestion; it is a way of life.
The Purpose of this Message: Today, we will explore why God demands truth from His children, how we should respond to it, and the eternal consequences of choosing truth over deception.
I. The Appropriate Reaction to Truth
To please God, we must develop a "truth-centric" heart. The Bible describes several ways we should interact with the truth:
• Walking in Truth (1 Kings 2:4; 2 Kings 20:3): It is not enough to merely know what is true; we must walk in it. God demands an authentic life, not a religious performance.
• Speaking Truth (Psalm 15:2; Ephesians 4:25): Truth must live in our hearts and proceed from our lips. We are commanded to put away falsehood and speak truthfully with our neighbors.
• Being Guided by Truth (Psalm 25:5): We cannot find our own way. We must ask God to lead us and teach us in His truth.
• Buying the Truth (Proverbs 23:23): This implies that truth has a cost. We must be willing to "buy" it—investing our time, effort, and even our reputation—and "sell it not."
• Loving and Obeying Truth (Zechariah 8:19; Galatians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:22): Knowledge is useless without affection and action. We must love the truth so much that we are compelled to obey it.
• Proclaiming the Truth (Psalm 40:10; Proverbs 8:7): The truth is meant to be shared. Lies lead to condemnation, but the truth leads to salvation.
Key Principle: Truth always triumphs. As the Apostle Paul said, “For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8).
II. Inappropriate Reactions to Truth
Sadly, many choose to react to the truth in ways that God condemns. We must be careful to avoid these pitfalls:
• Suppressing or Opposing Truth (Romans 1:18; 2 Timothy 3:8): Some people try to "smother" the truth because it interferes with their ungodliness.
• Exchanging Truth for a Lie (Romans 1:25): This is the ultimate spiritual tragedy—trading the eternal reality of God for a temporary, man-made illusion.
• Deviating from Truth (2 Timothy 2:18; 4:4): Many start in the truth but allow themselves to be led away by myths or false teachings.
• Refusing to Practice Truth (1 John 1:6): If we say we have fellowship with God but walk in darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.
• Resisting the Truth (2 Chronicles 18:17): Like King Ahab, many reject the truth simply because it doesn't tell them what they want to hear.
The Consequence: Rejecting the truth may feel easier in the moment, but it ultimately leads to spiritual blindness and final condemnation.
III. The Results of Practicing Truth
While living in the truth may be difficult at times, it yields a harvest of divine blessings:
1. Truth Guards and Saves (Psalm 40:11; 69:13): Staying in the truth acts as a shield for our souls.
2. Truth Cleanses the Conscience (Proverbs 16:6): By mercy and truth, iniquity is purged.
3. Truth Saves Lives (Proverbs 14:25): A truthful witness delivers souls from deception and death.
4. Truth Guides to Eternity (Psalm 43:3; Revelation 21:8): The truth is the only path that leads directly to the presence of God.
The Ultimate Blessing: The greatest result of truth is freedom. As Jesus promised in John 8:32, the truth is the only power capable of setting us free from the chains of sin and the weight of the past.
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Conclusion
For the Christian, truth must be our most valuable possession. We serve a God who is Truth and who cannot lie. To be His children, we must imitate Him by being people of absolute integrity.
The truth brings blessing, the truth brings salvation, and the truth brings life. Let us commit today to loving the truth, speaking the truth, and rejecting every form of deception.
