And That's the Truth!

"Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free'" (John 8:31-32)

An adorable t.v. character from several decades ago played wonderfully by actress Lily Tomlin was a little girl named "Edith Ann."  She was filled with all kinds of philosophical advice on everyday living, slanted from the point of view of a five year old, and always capped off with the exclamation: "And that's the truth!"

Today one of America's top radio hosts, arguably the one that liberals love most to hate, made a profound statement in the context of reporting upon a supposed "gaffe" by presidential candidate Mitt Romney while visiting recently in the United Kingdom.  His observation was that "the most politically incorrect thing you can speak today is the truth."

Have we fallen that far today as a people, beloved?  Is truth, whether political or cultural or social or moral or spiritual, so "for sale" that it can be bartered away for a few more votes or a higher rating?  If you have been following at all the chain of events being played out these past months on the world's stage, then you must conclude that we have indeed fallen that far!

Jesus not only stated that we need to "know the truth" but that it is only that truth that will set us free!  Now I know that someone could easily respond to that by saying, "Come on, Ron!  Jesus was talking about religious stuff and that has nothing to do with political events today."  Doesn't it?  How many different kinds of "truth" are there, beloved?  Does it not occur to you that truth is truth whether it falls into the realm of politics, culture, business, social relationships, or religious convictions?

I am convinced that this present generation is quickly becoming one that does not particularly like or want to deal with truth.  And it is that very attitude that leads to the deadliest of consequences for any person.  The "truth" about which Jesus spoke was certainly that every person is born into sin, confirms that condition by his actions, and cannot possibly redeem himself from that fallen situation wherein he stands condemned before God.  And Jesus' truth is also that because of God's love for mankind, because He is not willing that any should perish eternally, He came to us in the form of Jesus of Nazareth, sinless and pure, and sacrificed His life on the cross so that we might find forgiveness with God and the gift of eternal life.  That is the truth that can and does "set you free," beloved!  That is the truth, the only truth, without which we remain condemned and without hope.

But this "truth" not only sets us free eternally, beloved, it sets us free in our here and now.  To receive the truth of God by faith is to order your life in this present world according to that truth.  It is to see everything - politics, culture, social relationships, business, family - through God's eyes.  It is to have a biblical world view.  And only those who have such a world view really know what is going on in our world.  To cast aside this truth, then, is to have a skewered view of the world, a twisted understanding of what is going on.

Are you living by the "truth" today?  Has it set you free?  I encourage you to ask God to help you to see your world through His eyes.  It will be the most liberating move you've ever made.  And, as Edith Ann would surely say at this juncture: "And that's the truth!"

Ron 

A' demain to a Very Dear Friend

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:20-21)

The French phrase a' demain is one that came tumbling out of my distant past recently, beloved, and for a very good reason.  I thought of it in response to the sad news that a very dear friend and sister in Christ went home to be with the Lord in the early hours of this morning.  This French expression, if my recollection from high school classes is reliable, can be simply translated "until tomorrow."  It is not the "goodbye" of those who seldom see each other or expect not to see each other again in this life, yet it is not the casual "see you later" of the good and close friend who will likely bump into you again tomorrow.

A' demain is a wonderful expression because it looks to a certain future, to a coming moment in time when you know beyond any shadow of a doubt that you are going to see your friend again.  Barbara has now joined in eternity her husband who preceded her by a number of years.  Now they are together enjoying the company of their blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It was my distinct and great privilege to be both their pastor and their friend.  And that friendship has endured the separation of time and distance.

So why would I choose to simply say to Barbara and to Don a' demain?  Because I know, beloved, that "tomorrow" is coming!  Not man's uncertain tomorrow worked out on a human timetable and fraught with the frailty of human uncertainty, but rather in that certain "tomorrow" that is God's promise to each one who truly knows Him personally through faith in Jesus Christ.  Sadly I will not be able to make it to what will certainly be a glorious graveside celebration by family and friends of Barbara's home-going.  But this one thing I know - I will see her again as surely as I know that I will see my Savior face to face.

To her family, then, from someone whose life you blessed for many years in ways that I simply cannot measure, deepest condolences from both Bev and me as we are saddened by news of her passing.  And to Barbara, safe in the arms of Jesus, I say only a' demain.  God's "tomorrow" is on the way!

Ron