“One of my neighbors,” Stan commented one morning, “is quite a character. He often has a different view and can be a real joker about most everything.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Simple example,” Stan replied. “I was talking with him last night and he said something like he saw in the Bible that Pilate must have been watching 24-hour cable news.”
“Pilate watching 24-hour cable news,” I repeated. “What does that mean?”
“My neighbor was referring to John’s gospel where it says that Pilate said to Jesus, ‘What is truth?’”
“Oh,” I replied, “like not being able to tell what is true and what is not true in what we hear in the news.”
“Exactly,” Stan said. “And, as you know, with so much that goes on in our world, truth is optional. It’s really hard to know who’s telling the truth and who’s not. Sometimes I think it might be better if I quit listening to the so-called news.”
“And do what?” I asked.
“Listen only to the One who said He is the truth,” Stan replied.
“Who’s that?”
“Jesus,” Stan responded. “He said that He is the truth. And, getting back to Pilate, the Truth was standing right in front of him and he didn’t even recognize Him.”
“Aren’t a lot of people like that?” I asked.
“I know I was,” Stan replied. “For way too long I did not recognize or accept the truth of Jesus. But the blinders finally came off and I was able to see, accept, and embrace the truth of God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him when it’s time, along with the truth of being able to pursue and ever-deepening personal relationship with Him before then.”
“That’s great,” I replied, “but don’t you think it’s important to know what’s going on in the world?”
“Sometimes I wonder,” Stan replied.
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Bible verses to consider:
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” John 18:38.
I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. John 14:6
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they may not see the lights of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
Whenever he (the devil) speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending the Truth into the world in the form of your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who provides life eternally with you to all who believe. Thank you for those who brought that truth to me so I could accept by faith all of your provision. As you know all too well, with the world, the flesh, and the devil, truth is optional. Please help me in following every step of your lead so I follow only your truth in everything. Help me in presenting the truth to those who do not know so they will know. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted the truth of God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him when your time here is done? If no, why? If you do have the assurance of salvation, how are you doing with pursuing the truth of knowing God in an ever-deepening personal relationship on this side of eternity? Do you believe that with the world truth is optional? If so, how are you to determine what is true and what is not concerning what is going on in the world? Is knowing what is going on important to you? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 