Love of the Truth

I’m so glad, He saved my weary and wayward soul! I will go to heaven one day, because He came to earth and died. Through His blood poured out, I was washed.

Some folks feel He came to give us a second chance. Sorry, that would not be enough for me because I am a hopeless sinner. A second chance would imply that I could change myself; I could not.

I write with thanksgiving deep in my heart, but many do not have this. They are still trying hard, religiously dedicated. They feel that some day their fervency will measure up to a reward from God. It will not.

More honest are the drunks, addicts, and prostitutes; they are closer to the kingdom. But will they come to God for cleansing in His blood? If not they will die in their sins.

A third group have adopted one of many thousands of false ideologies. These seek to save their minds and emotions from the pain of a hopeless and tragic existence. They receive temporary relief. But their death will bring a rude awakening.

In all three scenarios, “truth has vacated the soul; reality has fallen in the street, equity cannot enter. justice is far from us.” See Isaiah 59.

“Righteousness does not overtake us, we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.”

“…we grope like Men who have no eyes, we stumble at noonday as in the night, we groan as those who are near death.” Isaiah 59:9-10.

Certain persons reveal subtle deviance from truth: Nietzsche, Gibran, Orwell:

1. “Not when truth is dirty, but when it is shallow, does the enlightened man dislike to wade into its waters.” Friedrich Nietzsche.  Enlightened?
2. “Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness.” Khalil Gibran    Kindness and content?
3. “For a creative writer possession of the ‘truth’ is less important than emotional sincerity.” George Orwell  emotional sincerity?
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But,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.” Jesus Christ.   no man?

Not enlightenment or quest for knowledge but a revelation, not first a kindness but a radical declaration, not a mere emotional sincerity, but an emotion exploded, is truth. Truth may appear cutting, provoking, offensive, unkind, disrespecting or hard. Truth is music to be faced, a dreadful bubble-burst, a terrible blow to the ego of man or woman.

Paul Exclaimed, “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” 2 Corinthians 13:8

A thought from Francois Fenelon: The Inner Life”…when He plunges us into the night of pure faith, let us still press on through the agonizing darkness.” Only one with a love of the Truth will do this.

A quote from Madame Guyon: “The Lord Jesus Christ loved His Father on Mt Tabor where He was transfigured, but He loved Him no less on Calvary where He was crucified.”

Friends, Truth endured the severest of defacement, mockery, brutalization. It submitted to mankind’s worst, a death of an innocent one; a murder premeditated. Thankfully, none of it could hurt Truth; nor even stain it. There is no smell of fire on Truth’s garment, but we see wounds; in hands and side. The marks of identification with suffering mankind. The proofs of His Love!

Lastly, “… they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11

Perhaps this is the last round-up. Perhaps the days are as the days of Noah. Perhaps there is strong delusion, this generation may not see a full life.

But, placarded as if on an enormous billboard, is a crucified Savior, a life extinguished for the love of a human race. Friend, you are a glance away, a gaze detached from truth.

Like the malefactor dying beside Jesus, today, you can be with Him in Paradise.  Love ya