Thinking On What is True

THINKING ON WHAT IS TRUE

Mark Twain said "facts can be stubborn things." That is because facts are based in truth. But as concrete as facts may be, they can change from day to day. For instance, a factual description of the weather will be different every day. A factual description of the sky will change day to day. Although facts have their basis in truth, truth is not just a set of facts.

When Paul told the Philippians to think on things that are true (Philippians 4:8), he was telling them to "hang their hat" on a peg that never changed. He invited them to anchor the foundation of their thought life in a place as steadfast as the sunrise - truth. Truth, like an army with endless inexhaustible supply lines, marches across time and space fueled by the unchanging laws of an omnipotent Creator.

Truth cannot be concealed for long. Though attacked or diluted, it is like oil mixed with water. Truth may seem to be masked for a while but inexorably and determinedly it rises to the top separate and untainted. Truth operates our world. It is the unseen force that links every action to a cause. Consider the workings of a 19th century watch. At the point where two minute cogs intertwine, the truth that we depend on in our physical world is illustrated as a cog turning clockwise moves its interlocked neighbor counterclockwise. We do not give this physical evidence a second thought, but we must think about it in order to understand the power of truth in our universe.

Truth isn't something that we make up as we go along. We can only contemplate it and work within its boundaries. If I plant a seed that I know came from a plant that bears a red blossom, I can truthfully predict there will be red flowers in my garden in the spring. But I am only talking about truth that needs no input from me to exist. I have no control over the truth that a seed designed to produce a particular plant will indeed produce that plant.

And like the law of reaping what is sown or the clock's movements in our physical world, our spiritual life was forever impacted by the results of an action taken by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God told Adam the truth. He clearly stated what would be the effect caused by man eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told Adam that he would "surely die" (Genesis 2:17). In spite of what God told him, Adam chose his own path. Then he hid because Truth came walking in the Garden in the cool of the day. Sin and disobedience are forever linked with concealment and deceit.

The Greek word used for "true" in Philippians 4:8 is a word that means to negate or nullify the quality of being hidden or concealed. Truth can no more be hidden or concealed than Jesus could (Mark 7:24). And it is not just that truth cannot be concealed, truth brings light and illumination as part of its essence. God's Word is "a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105). It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18) and "every word of God is flawless" (Proverbs 30:5). If we cannot seem to find any truth in our world to depend on, we must read The Book and Jesus said the Scriptures "testify about me" (John 5:39).

No, truth is not just a set of facts. Truth is God's gift to us, made flesh and blood in His only begotten Son, found in the pages of His Word and illustrated in the universe He created. When Paul told the Philippians what to think on, he began with truth. When he told the Ephesians to put on the armor of God, the "belt" was truth (Ephesians 6:14). Truth was likened to that part of the armor that held everything in its rightful place. John said "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 4).

The first step toward recovery is to quit lying to yourself about the behavior you wish to change. Paul's challenge to us is to take a "stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:11). This word "schemes" gives us a clue as to why truth deals the knock out punch to the snares of your enemy. It's a word that in the original Greek language means something that is a cunning secretive plan to delude and destroy. Satan is not in the truth business, he does not expose himself in open warfare and he has never followed any rules of engagement. As long as we cooperate with the enemy of our soul by deceiving ourselves, there is no change in our behavior. When we let Truth shine His light on that behavior, we can begin to see it through the loving eyes of the One who extends forgiveness along with illumination.

Life's struggles today are no different than that moment in the Garden of Eden. Adam hid and Eternal Truth came and sought him out and saved him.