Ultimate Truth part 5
Yesterday we looked at the first use of the word "truth" in the King James Version of the Bible. So today let's look at the last use. I think that's a pretty good way to end this Rant series. 3 John 1:12, "Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true." Interesting to me that the focus is on US. We bear record. Our record is true. Let me say it another way, "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart" (2 Corinthians 3:3). The epistle of Christ. Written on our hearts. What else could that possibly be but love? The Message Bible renders it like this, "Christ himself wrote it--not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chisled into stone, but carved into human lives--and we publish it." Think about that. Christ wrote it, using the Word of God--which is Jesus, which is love--in our lives. And we publish it. The verse before, 2 Corinthians 3:2, says, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men." We are the light that shines into the darkness so others can see it. When you're stuck in the dark you can feel really really hopeless. Helpless. But when that lights shines, you know where to go. What to do. And here's the thing: People are gonna read your book no matter what. People are gonna judge you regardless. And almost always they will judge you through THEIR veil of experience. Speaking on the story without knowing the whole story. Which, by the way, is why I don't care what people say about me. Especially people who don't know me. Its mind over matter. I don't mind so they don't matter. But what I'm trying to say tonight is: If people are gonna read your story, and judge your actions, why not give them something to talk about? In the best way. Being merciful and truthful at all times. Telling the truth in love. Killing people with kindness. That's the kind of thing people need to see. That's the kind of thing that will get people to run TO God instead of running FROM Him. And remember what Jesus said: People will know we are His disciples by the love we have for one another. People see love and they like what they see. They might not necessarily believe it right away--true love seems too good to BE true--but love never fails. Because love endures. And the proof of the pudding is in the eating. When people see something real, something that doesn't change, they won't have any choice BUT to believe it. We bear record to the truth--the love of God--and our record is true. We represent Him because we are the letter--the love letter--that HE wrote to the world. He wrote His love on our hearts, and we simply publish what He wrote. We simply receive it and release it. Know the truth. Believe the truth. And let the truth that has already set us free and made us free... set us free and make us free! Free FROM sin... free TO love!