There was an old game show called Truth or Consequences. I don’t remember much about the show but the name stays with me and serves as a reminder of reality. In many ways we operate assuming truth and if it were not so the consequences could be significant. For instance, we take for granted that if I put $30 of gas in my car today the pump info would be true and I would have added 10 gallons of gas to my tank.
Now, if my gas gauge wasn’t working properly and I took off in my car for St. Cloud I should be fine, right? Yes, but what if the gas station was lying to me and was actually giving me my gas at $9/gallon instead of the $3/gallon on the sign? I would run out of gas on Highway 94 somewhere south of St. Cloud. All of a sudden my little trip becomes an unwanted event!
That example is a pretty small amount of consequences compared to other examples but I think it serves the purpose to point out how often we depend on truth. We count on the “fact” that we are basically operating in a truthful context. In many ways our entire society is built upon truth. We believe that people owe each other the truth. It is with this in mind, which allows us to rely on our judicial system which requires people “to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. If people lie under this oath they will be held accountable for their lies and punished.
Truth matters in our lives today and every day. The big question regarding truth that we need to come to grips with is regarding objective truth. Is there such a thing as ultimate truth? Are there foundational truths that are for all societies and all people for all of time? Many people would say NO, there is only subjective truth that varies depending on the context. I would disagree and want people to know the very good news that we have foundational Truth that we can ALWAYS count on!
No matter what comes your way there are things that are true. Here are a few.
· There is a God and that God loves you and knows your name.
· That God created you and wants to claim you as His own no matter what you have done in the past.
· There is a God that has communicated to us just what we need to know and He wrote it down in the Bible.
That book is the Word of God and it is true whether or not we like it.
· God invites us to agree with Him but it is true even if we disagree with Him.
The culmination of God’s revelation of Truth is found in Jesus. In fact, it is Jesus Himself. To agree or disagree with God will have consequences. What will your consequences be?
Jesus said, “Know the truth and the truth will set you free…I am the way, the truth and the life...” -John 8.32, 14.6
Connecting Lives in Grace and Truth,
Pastor Nick
Now, if my gas gauge wasn’t working properly and I took off in my car for St. Cloud I should be fine, right? Yes, but what if the gas station was lying to me and was actually giving me my gas at $9/gallon instead of the $3/gallon on the sign? I would run out of gas on Highway 94 somewhere south of St. Cloud. All of a sudden my little trip becomes an unwanted event!
That example is a pretty small amount of consequences compared to other examples but I think it serves the purpose to point out how often we depend on truth. We count on the “fact” that we are basically operating in a truthful context. In many ways our entire society is built upon truth. We believe that people owe each other the truth. It is with this in mind, which allows us to rely on our judicial system which requires people “to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. If people lie under this oath they will be held accountable for their lies and punished.
Truth matters in our lives today and every day. The big question regarding truth that we need to come to grips with is regarding objective truth. Is there such a thing as ultimate truth? Are there foundational truths that are for all societies and all people for all of time? Many people would say NO, there is only subjective truth that varies depending on the context. I would disagree and want people to know the very good news that we have foundational Truth that we can ALWAYS count on!
No matter what comes your way there are things that are true. Here are a few.
· There is a God and that God loves you and knows your name.
· That God created you and wants to claim you as His own no matter what you have done in the past.
· There is a God that has communicated to us just what we need to know and He wrote it down in the Bible.
That book is the Word of God and it is true whether or not we like it.
· God invites us to agree with Him but it is true even if we disagree with Him.
The culmination of God’s revelation of Truth is found in Jesus. In fact, it is Jesus Himself. To agree or disagree with God will have consequences. What will your consequences be?
Jesus said, “Know the truth and the truth will set you free…I am the way, the truth and the life...” -John 8.32, 14.6
Connecting Lives in Grace and Truth,
Pastor Nick
